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A HISTORY 



MEDICAL DEPARTMENT 



UNIYERSITY OF PENNSYLYANIA 



FOIJA"DATION IN 1165. 



SKETCHES OF THE LIVES OF DECEASED PROFESSORS. 



BY 

JOSEPH CARSON, M. D., 

PROFESSOR OF MATERIA MEDICA AND PHARMACY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA 
MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, ETC. 




PHILADELPHIA: 
LINDSAY AND BLAKISTON 

1869. 






Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1869, by 

JOSEPH CARSON, M.D., 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States in and for the Eastern 
District of the State of Pennsylvania. 



PHILADELPHIA : 
COLLINS, PRINTER, 105 JAYNE STREET. 



TO THE ALUMXI 

OF THE 

:VIEDICAL DEPARTMENT 

OF THE 

UXIYEESITT OF PEXNSTLYAl^IA, 

fbis M0rk 

IS 

RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 

BY 

THEIR OBEDIENT SERVANT 

THE AUTHOR 



PREFACE 



The author of this History of the Medical Department of 
the University of Pennsylvania was appointed to deliver the 
opening lecture of the course of 1865, on the occasion of the 
centenary anniversary. That lecture, delivered at the request 
of the Faculty, consisted of a succinct statement of events 
preceding, and of the circumstances connected with, the 
foundation of the Medical School, with an exposition of the 
character and labors of the individuals who were prominent 
in the enterprise of transferring medical education from the 
Old World to the New, and who by their learning, talents, 
and energy contributed to its success. It was written for 
public delivery, and was by no means a complete history of 
the Medical Department of the University. 

Although urged to the publication of that lecture, the 
author conceived that a more extended account should be 
given of the origin and progress of the School, and that a 
fuller notice should be presented of the lives of the emi- 
nent men who, by establishing its reputation and extending 
its usefulness, were identified with its history. A consider- 
able amount of materials had been collected to accomplish 
this object, but the entire field of research had not been 
exhausted, and many sources of information still remained 
available. In the intervals of leisure since the period re- 
ferred to, the author has been steadily employed in collecting 

1* 



VI PEEFACE. 

all tlie materials necessary for the extended history that is 
now placed before the medical public. 

It is proper to state that a brief account of the Medical 
School has been in print for many years, prepared originally 
by Professor Wood as a valedictory discourse to the class of 
1836. This was subsequently printed in connection with the 
catalogue of the graduates. Another notice of the Medical 
Department, by the same author, is contained in a General 
History of the College and University published in the third 
volume of the " Transactions of the Historical Society of 
Pennsylvania;" these have been employed for comparison 
and verification of impressions derived from original au- 
thorities. 

The main sources from which the author has derived his 
materials are the Minutes of the Board of Trustees and those 
of the Medical Faculty. The former are entire from the 
foundation of the Academy and College; while the latter date 
from 1800. He has also consulted the Minutes of the Penn- 
sylvania Hospital, and of the Philosophical Society, and the 
manuscript documents preserved in the Historical Society, 
as well as the public papers, more particularly the " Pennsyl- 
vania Gazette" and the " Pennsylvania Journal." To these 
may be added numerous original letters in his own posses- 
sion. He is largely indebted to biographies — many of them 
extremely rare — of the Professors who, at different epochs, 
have been connected with the University, and to the pam- 
phlets and documents contained in the Philadelphia Library, 
as well as in the libraries of the Philosophical and the His- 
torical Societies, and more especially in that of the Penn- 
sylvania Hospital, which is rich not only in medical science, 
but in medical history. 

Eeference has been made to every source from which in- 
formation is derived. There are, moreover, several mooted 
points discussed in the progress of the history which the 



PEEFACE. Vll 

author lias endeavored to place in their correct light; in 
doing which it seemed just that the authority upon which 
statements are made should be open for examination. 

In the publication of the work, great pleasure is taken in 
acknowledging the obligation the author is under to his 
friend, Dr. La Eoche, for assistance with the revision, and for 
many valuable suggestions that have been adopted. 

The work has occupied much time in its preparation, and 
entailed a large amount of labor, ample recompense for which 
will be received should it subserve the design for which it 
has been written — namely, to communicate to his fellow- 
alumni all the information he has been able to gather with 
respect to the history of their Alma Mater. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

PAGE 

Introduction 17 

CHAPTER II. 

The first physicians of Pennsylvania — Their education abroad — Their 
professional and public influence — The succeeding generation of 
medical men, and their education at home and abroad — Their cha- 
racter and labors — The institution of the American Philosophical 
Society, and of the Pennsylvania Hospital . . . . .26 

CHAPTER III. 

Commencement of medical teaching in America — Dr. Cadwalader's 
lectures on anatomy in Philadelphia — Dr. Hunter's lectures at New- 
port — Dr. Shippen, Jr., opens an anatomical school — Dr. Fother- 
giirs contributions for teaching anatomy — Dr. John Morgan, his 
education and early labors — Dr. Shippen' s education and studies — 
Dr. Morgan submits his plan of a medical school to the trustees of 
the college 39 

CHAPTER IV. 

Foundation of the College of Philadelphia — Application of Dr. Morgan 
— His appointment to the professorship of theory and practice of 
physic — His public discourse — Dr. Shippen appointed Professor of 
Anatomy and Surgery — Organization of the medical department — 
Dr. Bond delivers clinical lectures in the Pennsylvania Hospital — 
Rules for the government of the medical department of the College — 
Dr. Wm. Smith's lectures on natural and experimental philosophy . 52 

CHAPTER Y. 

Dr. Adam Kuhn ; education and appointment to the professorship of 
botany and materia medica — Fees of the college — Degree of Br.che- 
lor of Medicine conferred in 1768 — Degree of Doctor of Medicine 



: CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

conferred in New York in 1769 — Commencement exercises of tlie 
college on the occasion of conferring the degree of M. B. — Dr. Ben- 
jamin Rush ; his education and correspondence while in Europe ; 
appointment to the professorship of chemistry — First faculty of 
medicine organized — Commencement of 1771 64 



CHAPTER VI. 

Connection between the medical department of the College of Phila- 
delphia and that of the University of Edinburgh — Sketch of the 
origin of the Edinburgh school and of its position in 1768 — Dr. 
Cullen 77 



CHAPTER VII. 

Effect of the American Revolution upon the College of Philadelphia — 
Abrogation of its charter and the establishment of the University of 
the State of Pennsylvania — Restoration of the charter and privileges 
to the college — Union of the two institutions under the name of 
University of Pennsylvania 86 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Death of Dr. Hutchinson — Sketch of his life — Election of Dr. Wood- 
house to the professorship of chemistry — Resignation of Dr. Griffitts 
— Sketch of his life — Election of Dr. Barton to the chair of materia 
medica — Resignation of Dr. Kuhn and election of Dr. Rush to the 
chair of practice — Creation of the chair of surgery and election of 
Dr. Physick, professor — First recognition of the ad eundem footing. 
Petition to the legislature with respect to irregular practitioners — 
Death of Dr. Shippen and election of Dr. Wistar — Death of Dr. 
Woodhouse and sketch of his life — Election of Dr. Coxe to the chair 
of chemistry — Opinion of the faculty with respect to chemistry 



CHAPTER IX. 

Separation of Obstetrics from the Chair of Anatomy — Estimation of 
this branch in Europe, and its elevation to an equal position with 
other branches of the Medical Schools— Dr. Shippen's endeavors to 
improve its condition in America — Election of Dr. James to the 
Chair of Obstetrics in the University of Pennsylvania — The tardy 
admission of the subject to an equality with others — Mode of exam- 
ining for degrees — New By-Laws for the regulation of the Medical 
Department — Rules for graduation 110 



CONTEXTS. XI 



CHAPTER X. 

PAGE 

Death of Dr. Rush — His services to the Medical School and his doc- 
trines — Election of Dr. Barton to the Chair of Practice, and of Dr. 
Chapman to that of Materia Medica — Death of Dr. Barton — Sketch 
of his life and labors as a teacher and naturalist — Election of Dr. 
Chapman to the Professorship of Practice, and of Dr. Dorsey to 
that of Materia Medica 120 

CHAPTER XI. 

A Faculty of Natural Sciences organized by the Board of Trustees. 
Death of Dr. Wistar — Sketch of his life and services to the Univer- 
sity — Anatomical Museum — Dr. Dorsey succeeds Dr. Wistar — Death 
of Dr. Dorsey — Sketch of his life — Transfer of Dr. Physick to the 
Chair of Anatomy — Election of Dr. Gibson to the Chair of Surgery 
— Dr. Horner appointed Adjunct Professor of Anatomy . . . 134 

CHAPTER XII. 

Degrees in Pharmacy — Foundation of six studentships in the Medical 
Department — Appointment of Dr. Dewees Adjunct Professor of Ob- 
stetrics and the Diseases of Women and Children — Settlement of the 
ad eundem footing of other Schools of Medicine — Application for the 
transfer of the Botanical Professorship to the Medical Faculty — Ap- 
pointment of Dr. Samuel Jackson as an Assistant to the Professor of 
Practice, &c., to teach the Institutes of Medicine — Resignation of 
Dr. Physick ; sketch of his life and services — Election of Dr. Horner 
to the Chair of Anatomy 145 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Resignation of Dr. James — Sketch of his life — Dr. Dewees elected Pro- 
fessor of Obstetrics — Retirement of Dr. Coxe from the Chair of 
Materia Medica — Sketch of his life — Restitution of the Chair of In- 
stitutes — Election of Dr. .Jackson to it — Election of Dr. Wood to the 
Professorship of Materia Medica and Pharmacy — Resignation of Dr. 
Dewees and election of Dr. Hodge — Sketch of the life of Dr. Dewees 
— Faculty as organized in 1835 ' 154 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Resignation of Dr. Hare — Sketch of his life — Election of Dr. James B. 
Rogers to the Chair of Chemistry — Change in the lecture term — Resig- 
nation of Dr. Chapman — Sketch of his life — Election of Dr. Wood to the 
Chair of Practice, and of Dr. Carson to that of Materia Medica and Phar- 
macy 165 



Xll CONTENTS. 

CHAPTEE XV. 

PAGE 

Death of Dr. James B. Kogers — Sketch of his life — Election of Dr. 
Eobert E. Rogers to the Chair of Chemistry — Death of Dr. Horner — 
Sketch of his life — Election of Dr. Leidy to the Chair of Anatomy — • 
Resignation of Dr. Gibson, Sketch of his Life — Election of Dr. 
Henry H. Smith to the Professorship of Surgery — Resignation of 
Dr. Wood — Election of Dr. Pepper to the Chair of Practice — Re- 
signation of Dr. Jackson and of Dr. Hodge — Election of Dr. F. Q. 
Smith to the Chair of Institutes, and of Dr. Penrose to that of 
Obstetrics — Resignation of Dr. Pepper and his decease — Sketch of 
his life — Election of Dr. A. Stille to the Chair of Practice — Supple- 
mentary Course of Lectures 180 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Clinical instruction 192 

f 

CHAPTER XVII. 

University Buildings and accommodations for the delivery of the 
lectures 305 

Appendix . . . 213 

Index . . . . . . .223 



HISTORY 



MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE UNIYERSITY 
OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



CHAPTEE I. 
INTEODUCTION. 

The most enlightened nations of all periods have per- 
ceived the advantages, and zealously promoted the forma- 
tion of colonial settlements. Accordingly those nations who 
most figure in the records of history were more or less 
engaged, at the acme of their prosperity, in thus extending 
the sphere of their inflaence and authority. In the language 
of William Penn, " Colonies are the seeds of nations, begun 
and nourished by the care of wise and populous countries, as 
conceiving them best for the increase of human stock, and 
beneficial for commerce."^ 

Without detailing the numerous instances of enterprise in 
this direction, or the circumstances attending their varied 
fortune, it will be pertinent to the subject of present interest 
to state prominently the fact, that of all the races who have 
been thus distinguished, not one has been more successful 
than that branch of the Teutonic stock from which we are 
lineally descended. Conqueror of the Eoman Empire, and 
the legitimate inheritor of its glory, the race of Teutons has 
sent its sons broadcast over the earth, and has its offshoots, 

' Penn, in issuing his proposals, entered into an elaborate argument to 
show the advantages of colonization. — Penn's Works, fol. Annals of 
Pennsylvania, by Samuel Hazard, pp. 305. 

2 



18 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

as fJourisliing communities, on every continent. Deriving 
our descent from this redoubtable people through Anglo- 
Saxon ancestry, we are in this land to-day the representa- 
tives of a civilization which has never lost a foot of soil to 
which it has been transplanted, nor yielded, by force of arms, 
to any rival or competitor for supremacy; for wherever 
Anglo-Saxon domination has been carried, there has it been 
permanently established. 

The colonists of North America had all the qualities to 
secure a permanent foothold, and to extend territorial domin- 
ion. They seem to have counted the cost of relinquishing 
the attractions and advantages of European civilization, and 
having determined to cast their lot in a distant land, and 
settle in a wilderness, were ready to undergo the privations, 
hardships, and frequent perils incident to so bold an under-, 
taking. With stout hearts, vigorous frames, firm and un- 
wavering faith, and confidence in an unconquerable will to 
surmount obstacles necessarily to be encountered, they perse- 
vered tenaciously in their efforts, and, slowly emerging from 
their difficulties, were eminently successful in converting the 
primeval forest into a dwelling-place of abundance and 
luxury. The country they were preordained to subjugate, 
and to transmit as an inheritance to their children, was no 
El Dorado. To obtain gold or silver, or precious stones, 
from its streams or mountains, entered into the imagination 
only of the wildest dreamers ; but it possessed a virgin soil 
of untold richness, and bays and rivers of vast proportions ; 
and it had every requisite for the support of an industrious, 
^enterprising, self-reliant people, who would bestow their 
labor without stint, and by the sweat of their brow render 
nature herself conducive to the acquisition of independence, 
prosperity, and wealth. The settlers soon discovered that 
their land of promise was a cereal producing countr}?", by the 
cultivation of which bread could be produced in abundance 
for domestic demand, and to spare; that the plough and the 
sickle were the engines of present and prospective affluence, 
and that upon the use of these must depend everything that 
contributes to the erection of a flourishing community, of a 
first-class power among the nations, with its commerce, manu- 



THE UXIVERSITY OF FENXSYLVAXIA. 19 

factures, and arts.^ In 1680 Malilon Stacy wrote thus to a 
friend in England, from New Jersey: "We have wanted 
nothing since we came hither but the company of our good 
friends and acquaintances; all our people are very well, and 
in a hopeful way to live much better than they ever did, and 
not only so, but to provide well for their posterity. I live 
as well to my content, and in as great plenty as ever I did, 
and in a far more likely way to make an estate."^ 

Writers upon political economy, when estimating the 
sources of the wealth and prosperity of nations, have given 
comparatively too little attention to the importance of one 
natural family of the vegetable kingdom, the Graminede; yet 
with reference to ourselves, its cultivation was the foundation 
of our first successes, of our prodigious growth and augmen- 
tation, of our moral and intellectual elevation, and of our 
influence upon mankind. Food, then, has been made a 
dominant power, and all creation virtually recognizes the 
truth of the assertion. 

WitJ^ the relief from^ anxiety and concern for immediate 
and temporary requirements, and an improvement in material 
sources of prosperity, came new wants, spontaneously arising, 
to a thriving, active, and reasoning people. The need of 
literary and scientific cultivation was fully understood, and 
incited to practical endeavors to meet its suggestions. The 
school and the schoolmaster were early introduced as an 
institution, and we may advert with interest, not unmingled 
with pleasure and pride, to the former days when the rustic 
school-house and the "Log College" were the seats of educa- 

' That enthusiastic writer, Gabriel Thomas, when speaking of the crops 
of the settlers, informs us that " Their sorts of grain are Wheat, Rye, Pease, 
Oats, Barley, Buckwheat, Rice, Indian Corn, Indian Pease, and Beans, 
with great quantities of Hemp and Flax, as also several sorts of eating Roots 
and Turnips, Potatoes, Carrots, Parsnips, etc., all of which are produced 
yearly in greater quantities than in England. There are several Husband- 
men who sow yearly between seventy and eighty acres of Wheat, each, 
besides Barley, Gates, Pease, and Beans/' — An Historical and Geographi- 
cal Account of the Province and Country of Pennsylvania and of West 
Jersey in America, etc., by Gabriel Thomas, who resided there about 
fifteen years: London, 1698, p. 10. 

^ Smith's New Jersey, p. 114. ^ 



20 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

tion and learning of tlie country, when, witli spelling and 
reading, with writing and arithmetic, the classics and philo- 
sophy constituted the daily round of teaching imposed on 
one professor. From such humble beginnings have pro- 
ceeded the most successful and elaborately-organized educa- 
tional establishments, which having acquired a world-wide 
reputation, and in the full tide of usefulness, are evidences 
of the intelligence and refinement of the nation. 

Besides the necessity of systematic instruction for the pro- 
secution of the increasing business of the people, and for the 
extension of their relations at home and abroad, there was 
soon felt that of providing for the future successful perform- 
ance of professional duties. As population multiplied, this 
need was thoroughly appreciated. The educated men had 
become, from the earliest period of the settlements, the lead- 
ing characters, whether occupied in administering the laws, 
and governing the State, in expounding the doctrines of 
religious belief, or in administering to the sick ; and hence 
a respect for the higher orders of learning which were re- 
garded as conducive to efficiency and usefalness became 
fixed in the minds of the community. The first practi- 
tioners of the healing art had been educated in the parent 
country; when following the fortunes of their less gifted 
countrymen they had become participants of their struggles 
and trials. Such were the few medical men who first landed 
on our shores, and who encountered all the difficulties of 
administering to the ailments incident to a new climate, 
aggravated by deficient facilities of protection from the ele- 
ments and exposure. They were, in many instances, pos- 
sessed of a thorough education and of classical accomplish- 
ments, and nobly sustained their part in the untried scenes 
through which they passed. 

In some cases the theological and medical professions were 
united in the same individual, medicine being studied as an 
accessory science, with the especial view — as is now fre- 
quently done by our missionaries — to meet the exigencies of 
administering, if required, not only in spiritual concerns, but 
in bodily derangements. This union of the clerical and 
medical professions has been adverted to by Dr. Thatcher, 



THE UXIVER3ITY OF PEXXSYLYAXIA. 21 

who thus explains it: ''The inducements to emigrate, with 
the large proportion of the colonists, was of a religious 
nature. They were restive and unhappy under the restric- 
tions and even persecutions which emanated from the bigotry 
of the Church Establishment of England." "The Puritan 
clergy of England were, for more than twenty years prior to 
the emigration of the first settlers, subjected to the sharpest 
persecution. Hence, as a precautionary measure in case of 
an ejectment, a considerable number of clergymen of that 
period were educated to the medical profession, and not a 
few were eminent practitioners before they crossed the At- 
lantic. When these professional men came to form connec- 
tions in the Colonies, it was found that the small congrega- 
tions were unable to afford them a comfortable support; 
hence the necessity and convenience of their resorting to 
secular avocations." 

Dr. Sewell remarks, in this connection, that " so far were 
the professions of Divinity and Medicine united that the 
clergy not only prescribed for the sick, but entered into 
medical controversies, and wrote practical works on the dis- 
eases of the country." There were several medical works 
published in America at an early date by divines. A physi- 
cian as well as a learned clergyman of Boston, Thomas 
Thatcher, in 1677, published a work entitled, "A Brief Guide 
in the Smallpox and Measles." This was soon followed by 
the work of another clergyman, which bore the title of 
" A Good Management under the Distemper of the Measles."^ 
The Rev. Benjamin Colman, also of Boston, printed a small 
pamphlet entitled, "Some Account of the New Method of 
Eeceiving the Smallpox, by Grafting or Inoculating." Ka- 
thaniel Williams wrote a pamphlet on the " Method of the 
Practice in the Smallpox," published in 1730. And Thomas 
Howard, in 1732, put forth a treatise upon Pharmacy.-^ Even 

^ A Lecture delivered at the opening of the Medical Department of 
Columbia College, in the District of Columbia, March 30, 1825, by Thomas 
Sewell, M. D., Professor of Anatomy and Physiology, Washington City, 
(p. 8.) 

2 An Historical Sketch of the state of Medicine in the American Colonies 
from their first settlement to the period of the Revolution, by John B. 
Beck, M. D. — Transactions of the New York State Medical Society, 1850. 



22 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

as late as 1775, we find, in the "Pennsylvania Magazine" for 
April, tlie history of a malignant fever, attended with some 
new symptoms, in Sussex County, Delaware, by the Kev. Mr. 
Matthew Wilson, of Lewestown.^ 

The two avocations, however, occasionally interfered with 
each other, as is illustrated by the following incident : In a 
neighboring State, a theological physician was in the midst 
of his usual Sunday services when a message was conveyed 
to him that a negro girl was dangerously ill and needed his 
medical attention. Having no other means in the pulpit of 
giving his directions, he seized a hymn-book and wrote upon 
the fly-leaf, "Let the wench be blooded, and wait until I 
come." The book is now in the possession of the clerical 
grandson of the clerical doctor, who in his day was an influ- 
ential personage. 

It must not be supposed that from the very commencement 
of the settlements there was the highest degree of skill, or 
consummate learning. The colonists, in the infancy of their 
establishments, were apparently satisfied with a moderate 
amount of professional competency. It is recorded that 
"Jan Petersen, from Alfendolft, was employed as barber 
(as surgeons were then denominated) on South Eiver (Dela- 
ware) at ten guilders per month from the 1st of July, 1638."^ 
At a little later period, we are told by Gordon that the 
salary of a secretary in New Sweden was eight dollars a 
month, of a barber ten, and of a provost six. He adds : " We 
must not infer from comparison of the wages of the secretary 
and barber, that the latter was most valued, though most 
appreciated. The first had doubtless the most honor, though 
the second had a greater compensation in base lucre."^ 

When the Swedish possessions had passed into the hands 
of the Dutch, the Director of the colony at New Arnstel 
(afterwards New Castle), Aldricks, writes "that our actual 
situation is certainly very distressing by an ardent prevailing 
fever, and other diseases, by which the large majority of the 
inhabitants are oppressed and broken down; besides that, our 

' The letter giving this account is dated March 22, 1775. 

2 Annals of Pennsylvania, p. 49, from Albany Papers. 

3 The History of New Jersey, by Thomas F. Gordon, p. 13. 



THE UXIYERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 23 

barber died, and another, well acquainted with his profession, 
is very sick."^ The practice of the times was probably con- 
fined to bleeding, and the administration of salts and simples. 
These did not always succeed, however, for in some of the 
references in connection with epidemic disorders, it is stated 
that this mode of treatment was unsuccessful. A low type of 
disease may have been prevalent. 

There are other allusions made to the Dutch-Swedish 
Colony on the Delaware. In a letter from Aldricks to the 
Director-General, Stuyvesant, March, 1659, the "causes" 
then operating against it are stated; among others, "that 
prevailing violent sickness which wasted a vast deal of goods 
and blood from one year to another, and which not only 
raged here, but everywhere throughout this province, and 
Avhich consequently retarded, not only our progress in agri- 
culture, but threw a damp over other undertakings." In 1660, 
Beekman, the Collector, speaks of "Peter Tenneman to be 
employed as a surgeon by the Company," and adds: "We are 
in want of a good surgeon, as it happened already more than 
once ; thereto we wanted very much Mr. Williams, the barber 
(surgeon) in this city; but having then some patients there 
(probably New York) he could not come hither, and when he 
came he often had not by him such medicaments as the 
patients required, wherefore the sick are suffering."^ 

These extracts furnish an .interesting view of the posture 
of affairs, and of the difS.culties encountered at the period. 

The profession has always been burdened with charlatans, 
and the early history of it in this country presents no excep- 
tion. Smith, who wrote in 1758, when speaking of the pro- 
fession of ]^ew York, says: "A few physicians among us are 
eminent for their skill. Quacks abound like locusts in Egypt, 
and too many have been recommended to a full practice and 
profitable subsistence; this is less to be wondered at, as the 

' This picture differs from a somewhat spiteful one of affairs by Gabriel 
Thomas: " Of Lawyers and Physicians I shall say nothing, because this 
Countrey is very Peaceable and Healty {sic) ; long may it so continue, and 
never have occasion for the Tongue of the one, nor the Pen of the other — 
both equally destructive to Men's Estates and Lives ; besides, forsooth, 
they, Hangman like, have a License to Murder and make Mischief."— Op. 
cit., p. 32. 

* Annals of Pennsylvania, p. 308. 



24 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

profession is under no kind of regulation. Loud as ttie call 
is, to our shame be it remembered, we have no law to protect 
the lives of the king's subjects from the malpractice ^ of pre- 
tenders. Any man, at his pleasure, sets up for physician, 
apothecary, and chirurgeon. No candidates are either exam- 
ined, licensed, or were sworn to fair practice."^ This condi- 
tion of things was also exhibited by Dr. Peter Middleton in 
his introductory lecture in 1768, upon the opening of the 
Medical School, who stigmatized a class of practitioners as 
the "needy outcasts of other places in the character of 
doctors."^ 

There is an instinctive tendency among scientific men, 
when transplanted to new and unexplored localities, to inves- 
tigate the objects of natural interest to which they are intro- 
duced, and none could have been better calculated to arouse 
curiosity, or lead to exploration, than the surroundings of 
the colonial physicians. The natural science with which they 
were best acquainted 'was botany. It had necessarily entered 
into their studies as an element of medic^^l education, and was 
so closely associated with the therapeutical methods of the 
time, that the transition was an easy and attractive one from 
the study of the plants to which they had been accustomed 
to unknown productions everywhere thrust upon their obser- 
vation. 

The rich and resplendent Flora of North America was a 
subject for wonder and contemplation to the true votary of 
nature, well calculated to awaken his enthusiasm, irrespective 
of the practical application that might be made of its study 
and investigation to the interests of humanity. When Pro- 
fessor Kalm, of Obo, a distinguished naturalist, was sent by the 
Universities of Sweden and the Government to this country in 
1748, he landed in Philadelphia, and thus narrates his impres- 
sions: "I found that I was now come into a new world. Wher- 
ever I looked to the ground I everywhere found such plants 
as I had never seen before. When I saw a tree, I was forced 
to stop and ask those who accompanied me, how it was called. 
The first plant which struck my eyes was an andropogon^ or 

' History of New York, by William Smith, A. M., p. 336. 
2 See Beck's Historical -Sketch, before quoted. 



THE UXIYERSITY OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 25 

kind of grass — and grass is a part of botany I always de- 
lighted in, I was seized with terror at the thought of 
ranging through so man}^ new and unknown parts of natural 
history/'^ This was an instinctive expression of feeling on 
the part of one of the most accomplished naturalists of the 
age. The colonial physicians were not neglectful of resources 
that lay within their reach. Stimulated by a desire to render 
themselves independent in the supply of their remedial 
agents, they made important discoveries in regard to the_ 
value of indigenous plants, which have stood the test of expe- 
rience. By them standard additions were made to the Mate- 
ria Medica list, not only of this country, but of Europe. 
Some of the medicinal productions of the continent of 
America were known to the aborigines.^ The names of 
Clayton, Tennant, Lining, Chalmers, Garden, Shoeff, Colden, 
and Mitchell, may be honorably mentioned in association 
with the botanical productions of North America; and in 
compliment to several of them Linn^us named such genera 
as emanated from their researches. It is stated that Dr. Ten- 
nant received one hundred pounds from the Virginia legis- 
lature, in 1739, in consequence of the discovery of the efiicacy 
of senega in pleuris}^. Dr. Garden's name is closely con- 
nected with the recognition of the anthelmintic properties of 
Spigelia Marilandica.^ 

* Kalm's Travels in North. America, vol. i. p. 31. 

^ The way in which the resources of the country were viewed by certain 
persons who wrote upon the subject at an early date, may be judged of 
from the following extract of Gabriel Thomas's account of Pennsylvania, 
published in 1698 : "There are also many curious and excellent 'physical 
wild herbs, roots, and drugs, of great virtue and very sanative, as the 
sassafras and sarsaparilla, so much used in diet drinks, for the cure of the 
venereal disease, which makes the Indians, by a right application of 
them, as able doctors and surgeons as any in Europe, performing celebrated 
cures therewith, and by the use of some particular pZcm^.s only, find remedy 
in all swellings, burnings, cuts, etc. There grows also in great plenty 
the black snakeroot (famed for its sometimes preserving from, but often 
curing the plague, being infused only in whine, brandy, or rumm), rattle- 
snake root, pokeroot — called, in England, jallop — with several other bene- 
ficial herbs, plants, roots, which physicians have approved of, far exceed- 
ing in nature and virtue those of other countries." — Op. cit., p. 18. 

^ An interesting lecture upon this subject was published by Professor 
Wood, introductory to his course of 1840, University of Pennsylvania. 
See, also, Thatcher's Medical Biography. 



26 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 



CHAPTEK II. 

The first physicians of Pennsylvania — Their education abroad — Their 
professional and public influence — The succeeding generation of medical 
men, and their education at home and abroad — Their character and 
labors — The institution of the American Philosophical Society, and of 
the Pennsylvania Hospital. 

When Penn made up his company of emigrants, which, 
under his own guidance, landed on the shores of the Dela- 
ware in 1682, he was not unmindful of the medical wants of 
his incipient colony. Several well-educated members of the 
profession united their destiny with that of the party who 
arrived that year. It is known that one at least of these 
physicians was on board the Proprietary's own vessel, the 
Welcome, where his services were called into requisition on the 
voyage from England, as smallpox broke out among the crew 
and passengers shortly after their embarkation. The attention 
of a practitioner of the healing art must have been beneficial 
to those who were attacked by the disease, and, under such ap- 
palling circumstances, his presence must have been a source of 
encouragement and comfort to all who constituted the adven- 
turous company. The individual referred to as having been 
on board the Welcome was Thomas Wynne} Another skilful 

' Mr. Edward Armstrong, the editor of the reprinted vol. i. of the 
Memoirs of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, has taken pains to 
ascertain who were the individuals accompanying William Penn in the 
Welcome. The name of Thomas Wynne has been determined to be upon 
the list. We have reason to suppose that there were many, not enume- 
rated, with respect to whom the direct proof is lost that they were in the 
same vessel as the Proprietary. With the scanty data that are now acces- 
sible, it is impossible to specify with accuracy of whom the entire company 
was composed. Several vessels arrived during the autumn and winter of 
the same year, and other individuals of the medical profession may have 
been passengers in them. — Appendix to vol. i. Mem. of Hist. Soc. of Pa., 
p. 33, and note. 



THE UNIYEKSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 27 

physician who arrived at this period was Dr. Griffith Oiven. 
It appears from the records that the sphere of operation in 
the immediate line of medical practice was too limited for all 
of the gentlemen who had arrived, and as they were men of 
the highest order of intelligence and acquirement, their talents 
were turned to account in organizing the settlement. Dr. 
Wynne was a Welsh gentleman, and is said to have practised 
previously with reputation in London. After serving as 
Speaker of the first Provincial Assembly of Pennsylvania, 
and being much employed in political business, he died in 
ten years from his arrival. From his public position he 
appears to have paid but little attention to medicine. Dr. 
Wynne left a son-in-law, Dr. Edward Jones, also one of the 
emigrants of 1682.^ He settled in Merion Township, near 
Philadelphia, and enjoyed considerable repute as a physician. 

Dr. Griffith Owen, whose merit and ability raised him to 
several offices of trust, continued his vocation as physician, 
''in which he was very knowing and eminent," as we are 
informed by Proud.^ This gentleman, indeed, appears to have 
been the chief medical practitioner of Philadelphia, and was 
highly respected for his professional talents, integrity, and 
spirit. He left no record of a medical sort, and dying in 
1717, at about the age of seventy, was succeeded by a son, 
who practised some time after his father's death.^ Dr. Owen, 
besides his medical employment, was a preacher among 
Friends. The individuals of whom mention has been made 
were in the prime of life when they identified themselves 
with the success of the newly-created Province. 

A narrative has been given by Thomas Story, of the first 
recorded surgical operation in Pennsylvania, as. follows: 
" The next day, being the 1st of the 10th month (December, 
1699, old style), we went over Chester Creek on a boat to the 
town, and as the Governor landed (William Penn's second 

' Prior to 1700, Dr. John Gooclson is spoken of as a surgeon of tlie city, as 
also Dr. Hodgson ; of these gentlemen nothing has been transmitted to us. 

^ Proud's History of Pennsylvania. 

' Eulogium upon Dr. William Shippen, Jr., by Dr. Caspar Wistar. 
Reference is made to these early physicians by Dr. Caspar Morris, in 
"Contributions to the Medical History of Pennsylvania." — Trans. Hist. 
Soc. of Pa., vol. i. 



28 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

visit), some young men, officiously, and contrary to express 
command of some of tlie magistrates, fired two small sea pieces 
of cannon, and being ambitious of making three out of two, 
by firing one twice, one of tbe young men, darting in a 
cartridge of powder before the piece was sponged, had his left 
hand and arm shot to pieces; upon which a surgeon being 
sent for from on board a ship then riding, an amputation of 
the member was quickly resolved on by Dr. Griffith Owen 
(a Friend), the surgeon, and some other skilful persons pre- 
sent. But as the arm was cut off, some spirits in a basin 
happened to take fire, and being spilt on the surgeon's apron, 
set his clothes on fire, and there being a great crowd of spec- 
tators, some of them were in the way, and in danger of being 
scalded, as the surgeon himself was upon his hands and face, 
but running into the street, the fire was quenched, and so 
quick was he that the patient lost not very much blood, 
though left in that open, bleeding condition."^ 

In the progress of time, the inhabitants of the thriving and 
extended colony of Pennsylvania became so numerous as to 
require a greater number of medical attendants. In the year 
1711, Dr. John Kearsley arrived; and in 1717, Dr. Thomas 
Graeme. Both of these medical men were well educated, 
and became distinguished citizens. Dr. Kearsley, although 
throughout his career extensively engaged in the practice of 
medicine and surgery, was not inattentive to the public inte- 
rests of the province. He was a favorite of the people, and 
as a member of the House of Assembly, after advocating their 
interests in debate, was carried to his home upon their 
shoulders. From the Eev. Dr. Dorr we learn that "he was 
for fifty-three years a member of the vestry of Christ Church, 
and always took an active interest in all its concerns. To 
him, more than to any other individual, we are indebted for 
the present beautiful edifice, he having superintended the 
building from the commencement to its completion, and often 
was in advance large sums of money to defray the expense 

^ Journal of the Life of Thomas Story : printed at New Castle-npon- 
Tyne ; foL, 1747, p. 245. Dr. Owen could not have been the surgeon of 
the vessel ; he probably had gone to Chester to pay his respects to the 
Proprietary, William Penn, on his arrival. 



THE UXIYERSITY OF PEXXSYLVANIA. 29 

of materials and the bills of workmen." When the church 
was completed, "on May 11, 1747, the vestry passed a vote 
of thanks, and ordered a piece of plate of the value of forty 
pounds, to be given to Dr. John Kearsley, for his care and 
trouble in rebuilding nad ornamenting the church, and as a 
lasting testimonial and acknowledgment of his services done 
for this church and congregation."^ 

Dr. Kearsley died in January, 1772, at the advanced age 
of eighty years, and " left by his will a large part of his estate 
both real and personal, in trust to the corporation of the 
united churches of Christ Church and St. Peter's, to found the 
institution which he named ' Christ Church Hospital^'' the 
design of which is to afibrd a comfortable home for respecta- 
ble, aged, indigent females."^ By judicious management this 
benefaction has proved a munificent one. 

Dr. Thomas Graeme, after a long career in medicine, in 
which pursuit he from time to time performed the duty of 
health officer, became an officer of the customs, and a justice 
of the Supreme Court. ^ He finally retired to his country 
seat in Bucks County, where he spent the remainder of his 
life. This country seat has been known by the name of 
Graeme Park. 

The influence of the intelligent and educated men whose 
names have been mentioned, was of incalculable advantage 
in all the ways where science and learning could be brought 
into requisition, but especially were their services important 
as teachers of their art and preceptors of the rising genera- 
tion. The physicians who succeeded them were natives 
of the country. Of their number may be named Lloyd 
Zachary, Thomas Cadwalader, William Shippen, Sr., Thomas 
Bond, Phineas Bond, Cadwalader Evans, John Eedman, John 
Bard, and John Kearsley, Jr. Several of these, as Zachary, 
Eedman, and Kearsley, Jr., were the pupils — or, in the lan- 
guage. then in vogue, the apprentices of the elder Kearsley, 
who, if the account speaks truly, was no lenient master. 

' Historical Account of Christ Church, of Philadelphia, etc., by the Rev. 
Benjamin Dorr, D. D., 1841, p. 335. 
2 Ibid. 
» Pa. Archives, 1728 to 1759. 



30 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

" He treated his pupils with great rigor, and subjected them 
to the most menial employments." An apprenticeship at 
that time was no sinecure; it was a period of probation 
attended with toil and exactions. The pupil lived, for the 
most part, with his master — was constantly subject to his 
orders, whether in the task of preparing medicines to be used 
in his daily rounds, in carrying them to the patients, or in 
making fires, keeping the office clean, and other household 
duties now devolving upon domestics. " To these. Dr. Bard 
has been often heard to say, he would never have submitted 
but from apprehension of giving pain to his excellent mother, 
and the encouragement he received from the kindness of her 
particular friend, Mrs. Kearsley, of whom he always spoke 
in terms of the warmest gratitude, affection, and respect. 
Under such circumstances he persevered to the end of seven 
tedious years, stealing his hours of study from sleep, after the 
family had retired to rest, and before they arose from their 
beds."^ 

The desire for medical knowledge was not satisfied, on the 
part of these American pupils, with the limited means of 
education at the command of their preceptors, who, as far as 
they were able, bestowed a training in the handicraft of the 
profession; and it was regarded as important that a visit 
should be made to Europe to complete the course of acquire- 
ment. We therefore find that most of the individuals alluded 
to pursued this plan, and returned to the field of their duty 
with all the accomplishments that a residence at the schools 
of the old world could afford to zealous aspirants for useful- 
ness and distinction. The facilities for improvement which 
were presented in Edinburgh, in London, or in Paris, attracted 
thither these neophytes in the healing art; and to good 
account, as was shown in their subsequent career, did they 
apply the fund of information there acquired. Another seat 
of medical improvement was Leyden, which possessed attrac- 
tions from the distinguished reputation of Boerhaave, of 

' Memoir of the late Dr. John Bard (American Medical Register, New 
York, vol. i. p. 61). Dr. Bard subsequently settled in New York, and 
both he and his son, Dr. Samuel Bard, one of the founders of the New 
York Medical School, were distinguished practitioners of that city. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PENXSYLVANIA. 31 

Albinus, and of Ganbius. Not a few of the earlier plij- 
sicians of our country g:i;aduated at that famous University. 

The fruits of the assiduity of these earnest inquirers into 
the nature and cure of disease are manifest in the valuable 
contributions made by them to the literature and practice of 
tlie profession. Their observations in so novel and unde- 
scribed a field as the maladies of a recently-settled country, 
whose geographical position was so remote from the ancient 
haunts of men, could hardly fail to elicit materials for publi- 
cation which would be received with interest and thankful- 
ness by contemporaries and colaborers, as well as be calculated 
to excite attention in foreign lands.^ The endeavors of the 
early physicians to contribute a share to the advancement of 
medical science are proofs of a thoughtful cultivation of it, 
and of a laudable desire to render the experience acquired 
available to others. They may be referred to with interest 
as the only means at our command of ascertaining the spirit 
which actuated and the principles which guided the pioneer 
fathers of the profession.^ 

But not solely from the achievements of medical men within 
the limited circle of their professional occupations must we 
judge of their character and worth. As liberally instructed 
individuals and as citizens, from the very nature of their 

' Dr. Cadwalader published an "Essay on the West India Dry Gripes, 
with the Method of Curing that Cruel Distemper. To which is added an 
Extraordinary Case in Physic. Printed and sold by B. Franklin, 1745." 
In the "Gentleman's Magazine" of 1769 appeared an account of Angina 
mahgna, which prevailed in Philadelphia in 1746 and 1760, by John 
Kearsley, Jr. 

2 The subject of inoculation as a protection from smallpox was a promi- 
nent one among the physicians of Philadelphia. It was discussed pub- 
licly, and had its advocates and opponents. In 1736 the success of the 
practice was published. Drs. Kearsley, Zachary, Hooper, Cadwalader, 
Shippen, Bond, and Somers, advocated and practised it. (Watson, vol. ii. 
p. 373.) See also a valuable exposition of inoculation in the Transactions 
of the State Medical Society of Pennsylvania, 1865, by J. M. Ton- 
ner, M. D. A number of papers by American physicians may be found in 
the "Medical Observations and Inquiries by a Society of Phy.sicians of 
London." Among them is a relation of a cure performed by electricity, 
by Dr. Cadwalader Evans, at Philadelphia, dated October 31, 1754. This 
cure was effected by the apparatus of Dr. Franklin, applied by himself in 
September, 1752. 



32 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

position, there are duties and obligations imposed upon them 
■vyhich must. be responded to in th« readiest spirit. To act 
up to the demand of their noble avocation, they must either 
be leaders or associates in enterprises that are calculated to 
expand the domain of true learning and information, or that, 
originating in benevolence, will conduce to an amelioration 
of the social, moral, or physical condition of the community. 
It can, without fear of contradiction, be asserted that such a 
course has been pursued by the medical profession from the 
very foundation of the Colonies to the present time of their 
development into wealthy and prosperous commonwealths. 
It does not enter into the design of this history to trace out 
all the manifold channels of exertion into which intelligence 
and philanthropy were directed in connection with the medi- 
cal profession; yet, when adverting to occurrences which 
preceded the establishment of the School of Medicine, it 
would be an omission if we were to take no notice of some 
of them which have had an influence upon its rise and pro- 
gress. We may, then, pertinently refer to the origin of 
two institutions in which medical men took part, and to 
whose success they have largely contributed their share of 
labor. The first of these was founded with the design of 
reciprocal culture and the advancement of science and philo- 
sophy ; the second was a benevolent and philanthropic under- 
taking. 

The history of the American Philosophical Society has 
been particularly detailed in an interesting and elaborately 
prepared discourse by the Yice- President, Dr. Eobert M. 
Patterson, delivered on the occasion of celebrating the Hun- 
dredth Anniversary, May 25, 1843. It is our purpose now 
to exhibit the part taken in its concerns by the members of 
the medical profession. 

The originator of this Society was Franklin, who, finding 
that the time had come for a more extensive combination 
than that which for many years had borne the name of the 
Junto, on May 14, 1743, corresponding in the Gregorian 
Calendar to May 25, issued a "Proposal for promoting useful 
knowledge among the British Plantations in America." The 
enumeration of the subjects on which it was designed that the 



THE UXIYEESITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 33 

society should be occupied, included botany, medicine, mine- 
ralogy and mining, chemistry, mechanics, the arts, trades and 
manufactures, geography, topography, agriculture, "and all 
philosophical experiments that let light into the nature of 
things, tend to increase the power of man over matter, and 
multiply the conveniences and pleasures of life." Upon its 
going into operation Dr. Franklin himself acted as secretary. 
In the life of Dr. Cadwallader Golden, given in Eees' Ency- 
clopaedia, it is stated, in a letter to a friend, that Dr. Franklin 
acknowledges that the idea of founding a Philosophical So- 
ciety was suggested to him by Dr. Golden, and this has been 
repeated in every account of the life and of the labors of that 
distinguished physician in the cause of science and general 
knowledo-e. The name of the individual to whom this com- 
munication was made is not mentioned. From the following 
letter it is very clear that Dr. Golden must have been deeply 
interested in the success of the Society, or Franklin would 
not have been so explicit in his exposition of its prospects. 

New York, April 5th, 1744. 

Sir : Happening to be in this city about some particular 
Affairs, I have the pleasure of receiving yours of the 28th 
past, here. And can now acquaint you that the Society, as far 
as relates to Philadelphia, is actually formed, and has had 
several Meetings to mutual Satisfaction. As soon as I get 
home I shall send you a short account of what has been done 
and proposed at those Meetings. The members are — 

Dr. Thomas Bond, as Physician. 

Mr. John Bartram, as Botanist. 

Mr. Thomas Godfrey, as Mathematician. 

Mr. William Parsons, as Geographer. 

Mr. Samuel Khodes, as Mechanician. 

Dr. Phineas Bond, as Gen. Nat. Philosopher. 

Mr. Thomas Hopkinson, President. 

Mr. William Goleman, Treasurer. 
B. F., Secret. 

To whom the following Members have since been added, 
viz : Mr. Alexander,' of New York, Mr. Morris (Gh. Justice of 
the Jerseys), Mr. Home, Secretary of do., Mr. Jno. Coxe, of 
3 



34 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

Trenton, and Mr. Marty n, of the same place. Mr. ISTicliolls 
tells me of several other gentlemen of this city that incline to 
encourage the thing. And there are a Number of others in 
Virginia, Maryland, Carolina, and the New England Colonies 
who we expect to join us as soon as they are acquainted that 
the Society has begun to form itself. 

I am, sir, with much Eespect, 

your most humble Servant, 

B. FRANKLIN. 

The Hon. Cadwallader Colclen, Esq. 

It will thus be seen that in the organization of the Philo- 
sophical Society our profession occupied a prominent . place. 
The subjects of inquiry pertaining to it stood at the head 
of the list, and of the nine original founders two were medi- 
cal men. 

Another society came into existence about the year 1750, 
which in a considerable measure took precedence of its elder 
sister. This association had its origin very much in the same 
way as the first, and was likewise, in its infancy, called the 
Junto. In April, 1766, it assumed the name, and went into 
operation as the "American Society for Promoting and Pro- 
pagating Useful Knowledge." It was likewise supported b}^ 
the medical men of the day, and the names of Morgan, Evans, 
Cadwalader, Bard, Kedman, Kuhn, Moore, Graeme, and Ship- 
pen may be enumerated as contributing to give weight and 
dignity to its proceedings.^ 

In the year 1768, greater activity was infused into the 
" American Society ;" large additions were made to the list 
of fellows and correspondents, and among them were Dr. 
Franklin himself, then in England, and other men of great 
distinction. " The proceedings were no longer those of a de- 
bating club, bat of a learned Society." At the same time the 
Philosophical Society appears to have acquired additional 
vitality, as it were, from emulation infused into it by the 
activity of its younger sister. ISTevertheless, " the necessity for 
the existence of two societies devoted to the same extended 
field of research and inquiry did not exist, and it is an evi- 

' Minutes of the American Society. 



THE UXIVERSITY OF PENXSYLYANIA. 35 

deDce of the good sense and kindly feeling of both parties 
interested that the proposition of union prevailed when the 
proper influence was brought to bear upon them."^ From 
the minntes of the American Society, January 28th, 1768, it 
appears that the overture came from the younger association, 
and in the negotiation that ensued the medical members were 
influential in securing the result, as the following letter from 
Dr. Bond to Dr. John Morgan will show : — 

Dear Sir : I have considered the proposals you made me 
yesterday of our taking some further steps towards your 
uniting Avith us in a Philosophical Society, and as it was 
always my desire, and I think may yet be readily effected, I 
should be pleased to confer with you about it, and will do 
everything in my power to cultivate that harmony which 
should subsist among the lovers of science. 

I will confer with such of our members as I can meet with 
this morning, and I shall be glad to meet you, with such' of 
your members as you think proper, at my house, or any other 
place, at half-after twelve o'clock this day, that no time may 
be lost. I am, yours respectfully, 

THO. BOND. 

January 28tli, 1768. 

At the end of the year (December 30th, 1768), the two 
societies were united under a title which was derived from 
both, " The American Philosophical Society for Promoting 
Useful Knowledge." 

Throughout the entire subsequent career of the Philosophi- 
cal Society the medical profession has had its full share of 
honor in the bestowal of ofl&ces upon its members. This dis- 
tinction has been fully earned by the deep interest taken by 
them in its welfare, and by their contributing to its trans- 
actions scientific investigations and papers which have pro- 
moted its reputation. Of the thirteen presidents elected by 
ballot five have been medical men.^ 

* Discourse of Dr. Patterson. 

2 The names of the physicians elected to the Presidency of the Society 
are, Caspar Wistar, M. D., Nathaniel Chapman, M. D., Robert Patterson, 
M. D., Franklin Bache, M. D., and George B. Wood, M. D. 



36 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

Intlie " Transactions of the American Philosophical Society," 
printed in 1769, which contain the joint contributions of the 
two societies for the previous year, of twenty papers upon 
various interesting subjects eight pertain to medical science.^ 

The subsequent volumes contain many important and inter- 
esting medical communications, as well as others upon general 
science from members of the medical profession. 

The other institution to which we must now allude, as fill- 
ing a large space in the affections of the public, and quite as 
much dependent for its successful operation upon the medical 
profession as upon legislative or private aid, and whose 
annals in connection with the medical administration are 
blended with those of the University, is the Pennsylvania 
Hospital. It is not necessary to detail minutely the circum- 
stances under which this noble charity sprung into existence. 
A professor of the University has accomplished the task of 
writing its history, and it may be said of this, as of all his 
literary labors, " nihil tetiget quod non ornavit."^ The fact 
on which we desire to dwell is that the instigation to meet 
the requirements of the sick and wounded indigent citizens of 
the increasing colony emanated from its most natural source, 
the medical profession, in the person of Thomas Bond, who, 
although most ably seconded by the suggestive mind of Ben- 
jamin Franklin, may be regarded, without disparagement to 
the benevolence and efficiency of the great philosopher, as the 
originator of the undertaking. 

The physicians of the hospital first appointed were Lloyd 
Zachary, Thomas and Phineas Bond. To these were soon 
added Thomas Grraeme, Thomas Cadwalader, Samuel Preston 

1 The small volume of Transactions to which reference is here made was 
the first published by the Society. It is of the small octavo size. A copy 
is not in the possession of the Society, whose first series of Transactions is 
a reprint in quarto form, not following the order of the original. We met 
with this original publication in the Philadelphia Library in connection 
with the "Pennsylvania Magazine" for 1769, edited by Lewis Nichola, and 
bound with it. The number in the catalogue is 1504 O. Apparently 
this early volume of Transactions had been lost sight of and forgotten. 

2 An address on the occasion of the Centennial Celebration of the Found- 
ing of the Pennsylvania Hospital, delivered June 10, 1851, by George B. 
Wood, M. D., published by the Board of Managers. 



THE UXIYERSITY OF PEXXSYLYANIA. 37 

Moore, and John Eedman. It is worthy of notice that at the 
time of the incorporation of this charitable institution, when, 
on an appeal for assistance being made to the Provincial 
Assembly, one of the objections offered to the measure was 
that the cost of medical attendance would alone be sufficient to 
consume all the money that could be raised, it was met by the 
offer on the part of Drs. Zachary and the Bonds to attend the 
patients gratuitously for three years. This became the settled 
understanding with the Board of Physicians and Surgeons ; 
nor have we learned that the compact has ever been annulled 
or abrogated during the period of "one hundred and seventeen 
years (from 1751 to the present date), an instance of disin- 
terested philanthropy which has been generally followed in 
the charitable institutions depending on medical attendance, 
not onlv of this city, but throughout the length and breadth 
of the land.^ 

In this institution was the first clinical instruction given by 
Dr. Thomas Bond in connection with the collegiate course, 
and it may be stated, so close has been the association between 
the hospital and the medical school, that of the twenty-nine 
professors, who have occupied collegiate chairs, eighteen have 
been attending phj^sicians or surgeons of the hospital, and 
five of the seven medical men first elected to these positions 
in the hospital were trustees of the college. 

The foundation of the medical library of the hospital dates 
as far back as 1763. The first medical book possessed by it 
appears to have been a gift from that warm friend and gene- 
rous benefactor of the institution, Dr. John Fothergill. It 
was the Materia Medica of Dr. WilHam Lewis, Loiidon, 1761. 
" When the managers resolved to demand a fee for the privi- 
lege of attending the wards of the hospital, and consulted 
with the physicians in regard to the destination of the sum 
raised, these gentlemen, Thomas Bond, Phineas Bond, Cad- 
walader Evans, and Thomas Cadwalader, although having 
claims upon such gratuities, according to the custom of the 

1 In bis "Travels in the United States" in 1788, this fact was thought 
by Brissot de Warville of sufficient importance to be particularly noted and 
published. 



38 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

British hospitals, full of scientific zeal, proposed to apply the 
money to the foundation of a medical library for the advantage 
of the pupils of the institution."^ In 1767, Hugh Eoberts and 
Samuel ISi eave presented as executors of Dr. Zachary, forty- 
three volumes from his library. The Library of the Penn- 
sylvania Hospital contains by donation and purchase between 
ten and eleven thousand volumes. 

1 Preface to Catalogue of the Medical Library of the Pennsylyauia Hos- 
pital, hy Emil Fischer, M. D. 



THE UXIVERSITY OF PEXXSYLVANIA. 39 



CHAPTEE III. 

Commencement of medical teaching in America — Dr. Cadwalader''s lec- 
tures on anatomy in Pliiladelpliia — Dr. Hunter's lectures at Newport — 
Dr. Sliippen, Jr., opens an anatomical school — Dr. Fothergill's contri- 
butions for teaching anatomy — Dr. John Morgan, his education and 
early labors — Dr. Sliippen' s education and studies — Dr. Morgan submits 
his plan of a medical school to the trustees of the college. 

It has been stated that the medical men who first settled in 
the Province of Pennsylvania came with their countrymen 
from Europe, and that into their offices or shops apprentices 
Avere received, to be trained in a knowledge of the healing 
art. It was well understood, however, that the highest grade 
of medical acquirement could not be derived from the re- 
sources alone of private practitioners, no matter how well 
informed they might be, or versed in the every-day applica- 
tion of science to the demands that were made upon their 
skill; and hence the resort, on the part of the rising genera- 
tion, to prominent seats of instruction abroad. 

The return of these youthful travelled aspirants was hailed 
with pleasure by their friends and fellow-citizens. The acquire - 
ments additionally gained by them from a visit to Europe 
afforded promise of a life of usefulness and distinction. They 
Avere believed to be conversant with the latest discoveries and 
improvements, and the exponents of the progressive attainment 
of the age. To their preceptors they returned with interest 
the debt of gratitude for early instruction, becoming in turn 
the teachers whose field of enterprise and labor lay in dif- 
fusing the results of their studies and inquiries. In exempli- 
fication it may be stated, that Dr. Cadwalader, who had studied 
anatomy in London under the guidance of the celebrated 
Cheselden, gave demonstrations to the physicians of Phila- 
delphia, when he settled himself among them. It is interest- 
ing to know, that the place of delivery of these lectures was 



40 MEDICAL DEPAKTMENT OF 

in Second Street above "Walnut, on the back part of the lot 
which faces Dock Street. The Bank of Pennsylvania subse- 
quently occupied the site. With respect to these lectures. 
Dr. Wistar remarks: " I suppose that the anatomy of that day, 
as well as of the present, enjoyed the honorable protection of 
literature, and that the dissections were made under the aus- 
pices of the most profound scholar of Pennsylvania, the Presi- 
dent, James Logan, founder of the Loganian Library." " This 
probably was the first business of the kind ever done in 
Philadelphia."! 

Credit is likewise to be awarded to Dr. William Hunter, of 
Newport, Ehode Island, a native of Scotland, and a relative 
of the celebrated LIunters, who, upon settling in America, gave 
lectures upon anatomy in 1754, '55, '56. As Dr. Cadwalader 
had been established in Philadelphia some time before the 
year 1751, at which date he Avas appointed one of the physi- 
cians of the hospital, and gave his lectures upon his return 
from Europe, the probability is in favor of his having first 
entered upon this branch of teaching. 

Dr. William Shippen, Jr., the son of Dr. Shippen already 
mentioned, who had recently returned from Europe, com- 
menced a course of anatomy in 1762. In the "Pennsylvania 
Gazette," November 25, 1762, is the following announcement: 
" Dr. Shippen's Anatomical Lectures will begin to-morrow 
evening, at six o'clock, at his father's house in Fourth Street. 
Tickets for the course to be had of the Doctor, at five Pistoles 
each, and any gentlemen who incline to see the subject pre- 
pared for the lectures and learn the art of Dissecting, Injec- 
tions, &c., are to pay five Pistoles more." 

The Introductory to this course of lectures was delivered 
in one of the large apartments of the State House, and many 
of the gentlemen of Philadelphia heard it with pleasure. 
The number of students who attended his lectures was twelve. 
Dr. Wistar, in his Eulogium upon Dr. Shippen, after the pre- 
ceding statement, adds, " Such was the origin of our medical 
school." Three courses of this private character were de- 
livered. 

* Wistar' s Eulogy upon Dr. Shippen, Jr. 



THE UXIVEESITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 41 

Dr. John Fotliergill appears uniformly to have evinced an 
interest in Pennsylvania, at first in relation to medical affairs, 
and subsequently in a more extended way by his anxiety to 
avert the calamity of war between the colonies and the mother 
country.' He Avas of the same religious persuasion as Wil- 
liam Penn, and hence his concern for the welfare and pros- 
perity of the Province. Dr. Wistar tells us "that the people 
of Pennsylvania seem always to have been regarded with 
affection by this gentleman, but at the present period he was 
more interested in them than usual. The Pennsylvania 
Hospital had lately been erected; he took it for granted that 
students would resort to it, and supposed that they would 
experience great dif&culty in acquiring a knowledge of anato- 
my. To remedy this defect in the medical education of Penn- 
sylvania, he employed Eimsdyck, one of the first artists of 
Great Britain, to execute the crayon paintings, now at our 
Hospital, which exhibit the whole structure of the body, at 
two-thirds the natural size, and the gravid uterus, with many 
of the varied cirumstances of natural or preternatural partu- 
rition, of full size. Jentry, an anatomist of London, is said 
to have made the dissections from which these paintings were 
made, and Dr. William Hunter sometimes examined the work. 
They are supposed to have cost two hundred guineas, which, 
in addition to one hundred and fifty guineas which he con- 
tributed to the institution, constitute a most substantial proof 
of his regard as well as of his liberality." 

The account of the arrival and reception by the Hospital 
of the donation of Dr. Fothergill is given in the Minutes of 
the Board of Managers, to wit — "At a Meeting of the Mana- 
gers and Treasurer, in the Warden's Eoom at the Court 
House, Philada., the 8th, 11 month (Nov.), 1762. 

" The Board being called at the request of Dr. William 
Shippen, Jr., lately arrived from London, he attended and 
informed the Board that per the Caroline, Capt. Friend, are 

1 Life of Dr. Fotliergill by John Coakley Lettsom, M. D., see the "Works 
of Dr. Fothergill," London, vol. 3d, 1784, Oct., also in Quarto ed. Tlie ac- 
count of Dr. Fothergill's association with Dr. Franklin is most interesting, 
in an effort to prevent the American war. His political papers on this sub- 
ject are worthy of perusal. 



42 ]\[EDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

arrived from Dr. John Fotliergill seven cases, wlaicli contain 
a parcel of Anatomical drawings, whicli the Dr. informed him, 
when in London, he intended as a present to the Pennsylvania 
Hospital, bnt that he has not received any letter or invoice 
of them, nor any further directions but what the Doctor 
verbally gave him, and that he concludes his constant en- 
gagements prevented his writing per the ship. But by a 
letter from him to James Pemberton, dated 4th mo. (April) 
last, he therein signifies in general his intentions of sending 
this Present to the Hospital, and the uses he proposes thereby. 
Of it the following is an abstract : — 

" I distributed the books thou wast pleased to send me as 
desired, but they came perhaps at an unlucky juncture. 
Money is much wanted here for numerous purposes, and men 
part with fifty pounds with reluctance, when they know that 
a little more would purchase them a hundred; the Hospital, 
however, must subsist itself as well as possible till better 
times. I propose to send, by Dr. Shippen, a present to it of 
some intrinsic value, tho' not probably of immediate benefit. 
I need not tell thee that the knowledge of Anatomy is of ex- 
ceeding great use to practitioners in Physic and Surgery, and 
that the means of procuring subjects with you are not easy ; 
some pretty accurate anatomical drawings, about half as big 
as the life, have fallen into my hands, which I propose to 
send to your Hospital to be under the care of the Physicians, 
and to be by some of them explained to the students and 
pupils who may attend the Hospital. In the want of real 
subjects these will have their use, and I have recommended 
it to Dr. Shippen to give a Course of Anatomical Lectures to 
such as may attend. He is very well qualified for the subject, 
and will soon \)Q followed hy an able assistant^ Dr. Morgan^ hoth 
of whom^ I apprehend^ will not only he useful to the Province in 
their employments^ hut if suitahly countenanced hy the Legislature^ 
ivill he ahle to erect a School of Physic amongst you^ that may 
draw students from various parts of America and the West 
Indies, and at least furnish them with a better idea of the 
rudiments of their Profession, than they have at present the 
means of acquiring on your side of the water. 

" Should the Managers of the Hospital think proper, I could 



THE U^'IVERSITY OF PEXXSYLVANIA. ' 43 

wisli that, if the drawings and casts I shall send per the next 
convoy come safe, thev might be lodged in some low apart- 
ment of the Hospital, not to be seen by every person, but 
with the permission of a Trustee, or for some small gratuity 
for the benefit of the House." 

The Minutes, moreover, express: "And Dr. Shippen pro- 
posing to exhibit a Course of Lectures on Anatomy this 
winter, requested he might have recourse to the said drawings 
and casts ; and the Managers being desirous of countenancing 
him in his undertaking agree he may have the use of them, 
in such manner and place, as after consulting with the physi- 
cians may be thought most convenient, and not prejudicial to 
the drawings, as they require to be handled with the greatest 
delicacy and care ; and after consulting with the Physicians, 
who, on notice being sent them, attended on the occasion, viz., 
Thomas Bond, Phineas Bond, William Shippen, Jr., John 
Eedman, and Cadwalader Evans, to A¥hom the proposal of 
Dr. Shippen, Jr. of his exhibiting a Course of Lectures, &c., 
being communicated, they unanimously expressed their ap- 
probation thereof, and it was concluded that the several cases 
should be conveyed to the Hospital and that the physicians 
and managers will attend at 3 o'clock P. M. to view the 
contents." 

With reference to these drawings, &c., the subjoined notice 
will be found in the " Pennsylvania Gazette," May, 1763 : " The 
generous donation of Dr. Fothergill, of London, to the Penn- 
sylvania Hospital of a set of anatomical paintings and casts 
in plaster of Paris, representing different views of the several 
parts of the human body, being now deposited in a convenient 
chamber of the Hospital, and as there may be many persons 
besides students of Physic desirous to gain some general 
knowledge of the structure of the human body. Dr. William 
Shippen, Jr., proposes to attend there on the seventh day of 
the week, the 21st inst., at 5 o'clock P. M., and once a fort- 
night during the summer season, on the same day of the week 
and same hour, to explain and demonstrate them to such 
persons who are willing to give a dollar each for the benefit 
of the Hospital," At a subsequent period the drawings were 
deposited in the Museum of the University, where they re- 



44 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

mained until 1866, when they were retransferred to the Hos- 
pital to be placed in its Pathological Museum. 

The lectures upon Anatomy by Dr. William Shippen, Jr., 
were thus in full operation when, in 1765, Dr. Morgan arrived 
from Europe. As he and Dr. Shippen, Jr., must be regarded 
as the fathers of systematic medical teaching in this country, 
it will be proper to give an account of their previous training 
and qualifications to assume so important a duty. 

Dr. John Morgan was born in Philadelphia, in 1736, and 
acquired his literary education at the college of this city, 
from which he received the degree of A. B. in 1757, with the 
first class which was graduated. He studied medicine with 
Dr. Redman, and upon the expiration of his indentures entered 
the Provincial army as a surgeon. This was at the conclusion 
of the French war, which terminated by the expulsion of that 
nation from Canada. In 1760, having resigned his commis- 
sion in the arm}^, he sailed for Europe with the view of per- 
fecting his medical knowledge. 

When speaking of himself with reference to this period, he 
states : " It is now more than fifteen years since I began the 
study of medicine in this city, which I have prosecuted ever 
since without interruption. During the first years I served 
an apprenticeship with Dr. Redman, who then did, and still 
continues to enjoy a most justly acquired reputation in this 
city for superior knowledge and extensive practice in physic. 
At the same time I had an opportunity of being acquainted 
with the practice of other eminent physicians in this place, 
particularly of all the physicians to the hospital, whose pre- 
scriptions I put up there above the space of one year. The term 
of my apprenticeship being expired, I devoted myself for four 
years to a military life, principally with a view to become . 
more skilful in my profession, being engaged the whole of 
that time in a very extensive practice in the army amongst 
diseases of every kind. The last five years I have spent in 
Europe, under the most celebrated masters 'in every branch 
of medicine, and spared no labor or expense to store my mind 
with an extensive acquaintance in every science that related 
in any way to the duty of a physician ; having in that time ex- 
pended in this pursuit a sum of money of which the very in- 



THE U^'IYEESITY OF PEXXSYLVANIA. 45 

terest would prove no contemptible income. With what suc- 
cess this has been done, others are to judge, and not myself."^ 

During Dr. Morgan's residence in London he experienced 
the benefit of the instruction of the Hunters and of Hewson. 
With the latter, as appears from his correspondence, he was 
on intimate terms. He graduated as M. D. at Edinburgh in 
1763, his thesis being written upon the formation of pus. It 
is entitled "nvonotfotj, sive Tentamen Medicum de Puris Con- 
fectione." This thesis, when published, was dedicated to the 
Medical Society of Edinburgh, in the following terms : " So- 
cietati Medicinos Studiosorum in Academia EdinburgcDa du- 
dum institutge." 

In this essay the doctrine is maintained that pus is a secre- 
tion from the vessels, and in this he anticipated Mr. Hunter. 
Dr. James Curry, Lecturer at Guy's Hospital, gives the credit 
of priority in this statement to him, and says: ''I could not 
avoid giving that merit to Dr. Morgan, who discussed the 
question with great ingenuity in his Inaugural Dissertation 
on taking his degree at Edinburgh in 1763 ; whilst I could 
find no proof that Mr, Hunter had taught or even adopted 
such an opinion until a considerably later period."^ 

While in England Dr. Morgan became a proficient in the 
art of injecting organs with wax, and preparing them by sub- 
sequent corrosion.^ Carrying with him to the continent the 
evidences of his skill, he acquired such a reputation as to pro- 
cure his admission as a member to the Academy of Surgery 
of Paris. While there residing, and attending the lectures of 
the distinguished anatomist M. Sue, he prepared a kidney by 

* Preface to the Discourse, etc. 

* London Medical and Physical Journal, 1817. New England Journal 
of Medicine and Surgery, vol. vi. p. 404. Beck's Historical Sketch. 

* The method of making preparations by this process was communicated 
to the American Philosophical Society. It is published in the second volume 
of Transactions, and is entitled the "Art of making Anatomical Prepara- 
tions by Corrosion, by John Morgan, M. D., Professor of the Theory and 
Practice of Physic in the University of Pennsylvania, Member of the Royal 
College of Physicians, Ed., F. R. S., London." It must have been com- 
municated some years prior to 1786, when the volume was printed. Dr. 
Morgan was an active member of the American Society, which he joined 
in 1766, and became a member of the Philosophical Society on its union 
with the former in 1768. 



46 MEDICAL DEPAETMEXT OF 

this process, which led to the distinction specified. Besides 
this honor, he was elected a member of the Eoj^al Society 
of London, admitted as a Licentiate of the College of Physi- 
cians of London, and as a member of the College of Physicians 
of Edinburgh. He was also admitted to membership of t^e 
Society of Belles Lettres of Eome. 

When in Italy Dr. Morgan visited Morgagni, at Padua. 
Dr. Rush says, in his notice of Morgan, that " this venerable 
physician, who was the light and ornament of two or three 
successive generations of physicians, was so pleased with the 
doctor that he claimed kindred with him from the resemblance 
of their names, and on the blank leaf of a copy of his works, 
which he presented to him, he inscribed with his own hand 
the following words: Afiini suo, medico prseclarissimo Johanni 
Morgan, donat auctor." These volumes were placed by Dr. 
Morgan in the library of the College of Physicians of Phila- 
delphia. 

Dr. Morgan, while in Europe, appears to have constantly 
revolved in his mind the course he would pursue. In writing 
from London, November 10th, 1764, to Dr. Cullen, he re- 
marks : " I am now preparing for America, to see whether, 
after fourteen years' devotion to medicine, I can get my living 
without turning apothecary or practitioner of surgery. My 
scheme of instituting lectures you will hereafter know more 
of. It is not prudent to broach designs prematurely, and 
mine are not yet fully ripe for execution."^ 

It has been shown that the practice of medicine in the 
Colonies embraced every branch of the profession, including 
pharmacy. This arose from the necessity of the case, and the 
difS.culty of division of labor in a restricted community. 

The plan pursued in Europe of a separation of practice into 
several departments was regarded as inexpedient, and had not 
been adopted. "When Dr. Morgan returned from Europe, he 
determined to take a different course from that in operation, 
and was the first physician who restricted himself to simply 
prescribing for the sick.^ In the Preface to his Discourse he 

' Thompson's Life of Cullen, vol. i. 

2 Prior to 1754, the profession of medicine in Edinburgh was not exclu- 
sive. In that year the College of Physicians passed an act prohibiting 



THE UXIYERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 47 

published his views with respect to the mode of practice which 
he thought shoukl be pursued by the physician, enforcing 
them with arguments derived from the advantages whicli he 
believed would be secured by such procedure. 

Having been appoiuted professor in the college, there was 
another reason, having reference to this position, which must 
be admitted as valid. It is thus given: "As far as I can 
learn everybody approves of my plan for instituting medical 
schools, and I have the honor of being appointed a public 
professor for teaching physic in the college here. Can any 
man, the least acquainted with the nature of that arduous task, 
once imagine it possible for me to acquit myself in that station 
in an honorable or useful manner, and yet be engaged in one 
continued round of practice in surgery and pharmacy as well 
as physic?" 

" To prepare for a course of lectures every year requires 
some leisure, and a mind undisturbed with too great variety 
of pursuits. So that my usefulness as a professor makes it 
absolutely necessary for me to follow that method of practice 
w^hich alone appears to be calculated to answer that end."^ 

Although the opinions of Dr. Morgan were not at the time 
adopted, nor was his example immediately followed, still, in 
connection with the history of the profession they are import- 
ant, from the fact that he was the first practitioner in the city 
of Philadelphia who placed himself upon the highest ground, 
by separating himself from the handicraft which requires dis- 
tinct skill, and so long a training, as to constitute in itself an 
occupation. He insisted upon the distinction being made 

their Fellows and Licentiates from taking upon themselves to use the em- 
ployment of an apothecary, or to have or keep an apothecary shop. In 
1765, in order, as they conceived, "to support that character and esteem 
which they had all along maintained, and to keep up that distinction which 
ought to be made between the members of the College and the practitioners 
of those branches of the healing art which have always been esteemed the 
least reputable," they resolved "that for the future they would admit no 
person to be one of their Fellows whose common business it was either to 
practise Surgery in general, or Midwifery, Lithotomy, Inoculation, or any 
other branch of it in particular." — Life of Cullen, vol. ii. p. 87, by Dr. 
Craigie. A continuation of Thompson's Life. 
' Preface to his Discourse. 



48 MEDICAL DEPAKTMENT OF 

between medicine proper and pbarmacj, whicli ultimately 
became a recognized necessity, affording relief to the physi- 
cian, while, by improving pharmacy, he was provided with 
greater resources for the application of his skill. The course 
pursued by Dr. Morgan may be said to have given the origi- 
nal impulse to the cultivation of the profession of pharmacy, 
and sanctioned its independent existence.^ 

Dr. William Shippen, Jr., was born in Philadelphia in 1736, 
and received his elementary training from the Eev. Dr. Fin- 
lay, of Nottingham, in Maryland. He entered the College of 
New Jersey, then established at Newark under the direction 
of President Barr. He graduated in 1754, and, being dis- 
tinguished for oratorical talent, was advised by Whitfield to 
devote himself to the clerical profession. He entered the 
office of his father. Dr. William Shippen, Sen., a respectable 
practitioner of Philadelphia, and a public-spirited citizen, by 
whom he is said to have been trained with reference to his 
future course as a lecturer. "The old gentleman must have 
been made sensible by his own personal experience of the 
value of an European medical education," and his son was 
sent to Europe in the year 1757, soon after he was twenty-one 
years of age.^ 

In London he studied Anatomy Avith and .resided in the 
family of Mr. John Hunter, bat was also associated with Dr. 
William Hunter and Mr. Hewson.^ While in the British 
Metropolis, in addition to Anatomy and Surgery, he devoted 
a share of attention to the rising department of Obstetrics, 

' There was an independence of thought and action in the character of 
Dr. Morgan. In further illustration, it is worthy of record that he was 
one of the first to use a silk umbrella, to the wonderment of the citizens. 

2 Wistar's Eulogium. 

3 From the Life of Mr. Hewson it will be seen that in the autumn of 
1759 that gentleman came to London, lived with Mr. John Hunter, and 
attended Dr. William Hunter's Anatomical Lectures at a house in Covent 
Garden. Hewson' s diligence and skill soon recommended him to the 
favorable notice of the brothers, and when Mr. John Hunter went abroad 
with the army in 1761, he left to Mr. Hewson the charge of instructing the 
other pupils in the dissecting-room. — " Works of William Hewson, F. B. 8., 
edited by George Gulli'cer, F. R. >S'." It was through this Association that 
Dr. Shippen became intimately acquainted with Mr. Hewson. In 1762 Mr. 
Hewson was in attendance upon the Lectures at Edinburgh. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 49 

attending in the summer season the lectures of a celebrated 
accoucheur, Dr. McKenzie, which were delivered near St. 
Thomas's Hospital. As he removed to this neighborhood, we 
may suppose it was in consequence of the practical advantages 
afforded by proximity to the poor, as Dr. William Hunter 
was then at the height of his reputation as a teacher and prac- 
titioner of Midwifery.^ He next proceeded to Edinburgh, 
where he graduated in the spring of 1761. His thesis was 
entitled "i)e Placentse cum utero nexu^ This production 
evinces a continued interest in obstetrical studies. He after- 
wards travelled in France, where he formed an intimate ac- 
quaintance with Senac and other physicians of Paris. 

Dr. Shippen, as has been stated, went to Europe in 1757, 
where he remained until 1762, while Dr. Morgan arrived 
there in 1760, and returned to this country in 1765. They 
were therefore together between one and two years in Europe. 
As these two zealous and enthusiastic young men, natives of 
the same city and imbued with the -same aspirations, were 
treading abroad the same ground of preparation for their 
calling, it is natural to conceive that they should have pos- 
sessed similar sentiments with respect to the urgent wants of 
their common country — that they should have conferred 
with those interested in the subject, and that the scheme of 
establishing, on this side of the Atlantic, systematic medical 
education, which was subsequently put into operation, was 
there entertained by both of them. In support of this opinion, 
Dr. Kush may be quoted, who, in his account of Dr. John 
Morgan, states "that it was during his absence from home 
that he concerted with Dr. Shippen the plan of establishing 
a Medical School in this city," meaning Philadelphia.^ From 
the testimony hereafter presented it is clear that Dr. Push 
was perfectly conversant with all the transactions connected 
with the origin of the medical school. Dr. Shippen paved the 

' In August, 1762, Dr. Hunter was the professional attendant upon the 
Queen of England in her confinement. 

^ An Account of the late Dr. John Morgan. Deli,vered before the 
Trustees and Students of Medicine in tlie College of Philadelphia on the 
28th of November, 1789, by Benjamin Rush, M. D. 

4 



50 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

way for the enterprise, by the course which has been detailed, 
on his arrival in Philadelphia. 

Dr. Morgan, at the time of his return from Europe, was 
freighted with great intents and exalted purposes. His views 
had been kept no secret, he had enlisted in behalf of his 
projects the Hon. Thomas Penn, a patron of the College of 
Philadelphia, and laying before the Board of Trustees of the 
College "a plan for establishing a medical school under their 
auspices," he presented to them a letter from that gentleman 
recommending it to their patronage. This letter was read 
at a meeting of the Board of Trustees, May 3d, 1765, as 
follows : — 

"Gentlemen : Dr. Morgan has laid before me a proposal for 
introducing new professorships into the Academy for the in- 
struction of all such as shall incline to go into the study and 
practice of Physic and Surgery, as well as the several occu- 
pations attending upon these useful and necessary arts. He 
thinks his scheme, if patronized by the Trustees, will at 
present give reputation and strength to the Institution, and 
though it may for some time occasion a small expense, yet 
after a little while it will gradually support itself, and even 
make considerable additions to the Academy's funds. 

"Dr. Morgan has employed his time in an assiduous search 
after knowledge in all the branches necessary for the practice 
of his profession, and has gained such an esteem and love 
from persons of the first rank in it, that as they very much 
approve his system, they will from time to time, as he assures 
us, give him their countenance and assistance in the execu- 
tion of it. 

"We are made acquainted with what is proposed to be taught, 
and how the lectures may be adopted by yoii, and since the 
like systems have brought much advantage to every place 
where they have been received ; and such learned and eminent 
men speak favorably of the doctor's plan, I could not but in 
the most kind manner recommend Dr. Morgan to you, and 
desire that he may be well received, and what he has to offer 
be taken with all becoming respect and expedition into your 
most serious consideration, and if it shall be thought necea- 



THE UXIVERSITY OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 51 

sarj to go into it, and thereupon to open Professorships, that 
he may be taken into your service. 

"When you have heard him, and duly considered what he 
has to lay before you, you will be best able to judge in what 
manner you can serve the public, the Institution, 'and the 
particular design now recommended to joii. 

" I am. Gentlemen, your very affectionate friend, 

THOMAS PENN. 
"London, February lotli, 1765." 

In addition to this letter Dr. Morgan presented others he 
had received from Mr. Hamilton and Richard Peters, former 
members of the Board, but then residing in England. His 
scheme was also approved by Dr. Fothergill, Dr. Hunter, Dr. 
Watson, and Dr. Cullen, " men distinguished for their supe- 
rior knowledge in literature, and particularly eminent in 
everything which relates to medical science."^ 

f Moriran's Discourse. 



52 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 



CHAPTEE lY. 

Foundation of the College of Philadelphia — Application of Dr. Morgan — 
His appointment to*the professorship of theory and practice of physic 
— His public discourse — Dr. Shippen appointed Professor of Anatomy 
and Surgery — Organization of the medical department — Dr. Bond de- 
livers clinical lectures in the Pennsylvania Hospital — Rules for the 
government of the medical department of the College — Dr. Wm. Smith's 
lectures on natural and experimental philosophy. 

The College of Philadelpliia was founded in 1749, sixteen 
years before the medical school was engrafted upon it. This 
institution was intended to meet the demands of the popula- 
tion for education of a more extended nature than was afforded 
by the private schools in existence. As liberal pursuits en- 
gaged the attention of a greater number of individuals in the 
Province, and as preparation for the professions, as well as a 
diffusion of knowledge in arts and letters, became necessary, 
the importance of employing all the facilities at command 
was made apparent. " Franklin drew up the plan of an 
Academy to be erected in the city of Philadelphia, suited 
to the state of an infant country; but in this, as in all his 
plans, he confined not his views to the present time only. 
He looked forward to the period when an institution on an 
enlarged plan would become necessary. "With this view he 
considered his academy as a foundation for posterity to erect 
a seminary of learning more extensive and suitable for future 
circumstances."^ Dr. Franklin, himself, was no classically 
educated scholar, but one of nature's own perfecting, who 
probably derived his inspiration from his native Province, 
Massachusetts. 

' Life of Benjamin Franklin, by himself, and continued by Dr. Henry 
Stuber, New York, 1825, p. 99. The college obtained a charter from the 
proprietaries, Thomas and Richard Penn, in 1753. This was amended 
and enlarged in 1755. In organizing the college, credit is awarded to Dr. 
Phineas Bond, Thomas Hopkinson, Tench Francis, and Rev. Richard 
Peters. 



THE UXIVERSITY OF PEXXSYLVANIA. 53 

The gentlemen who were called upon to give their aid and 
counsel to this enterprise were among the most respectable 
in the community.^ Five prominent physicians were mem- 
bers of the Board of Trustees in 1765, viz : Thomas Bond, 
Phineas Bond, Thomas Cadwalader, William Shippen, Sen., 
and John Eedman. To such an organization was the pro- 
posal of Dr. Morgan submitted.^ 

Upon examining the records of the College and of the Uni- 
versity, it will be found that for more than half a century 
medical men were admitted to participate in their government. 
No jealousy or suspicion appears to have been entertained 
towards them, and certainly it may be affirmed that medical 
men have as deep a stake in the prosperity of the schools as 
the representatives of other professions or occupations. 
Although the custom of electing members of the medical 
profession was for a time suspended, the return to it may be 
regarded as a happy omen, and the present honorable body 
may be congratulated upon the accession to its deliberations 
of such discreet and proper members as the medical gentle- 
men who now constitute a portion of its number.^ 

The impression which the arguments in his communication 
and his earnestness made upon the Board of Trustees, sus- 
tained by the letters from abroad which were submitted, pre- 
vailed with them to accede to Dr. Morgan's propositions. 
The Trustees approved the scheme, and, as the minutes ex- 
press it, "entertaining a high sense of Dr. Morgan's abilities, 
and the high honors paid to him by different learned bodies, 
and societies in Europe, they unanimously elected him 
Professor of the Theory and Practice of Physic." The first 
medical professorship in America was thus created. The date- 
of this event is May 3d, 1765. 

' The Board has consisted since its commencement of twenty-four mem- 
bers. 

2 The liistory of the College of Philadelphia and of the University of 
Pennsylvania has been written by Dr. George B. Wood. It was published 
in vol. iii. Memoirs of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. In addition 
to the trustees mentioned, Dr. Lloyd Zachary had been in the Board in 1749.. 

* The present (1868) medical gentlemen in the Board of Trustees are 
Drs. Rene La Ptoche, George W. Norris, and George B. Wood. 



54 aAIEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

At tlie public Commencement of the College, whicli took 
place on the 30th and 31st of May following, Dr. Morgan 
delivered his famous Inaugural Address, entitled "A Dis- 
course UPON THE Institution of Medical Schools in 
America." It had been prepared in Paris. This discourse 
constituted a part of the Commencement exercises on both 
days of their continuance. 

In noticing this performance, the '^ Pennsylvania Gazette" 
thus comments upon it : " We would not wish to anticipate 
the judgment of the public, and shall only say that the per- 
spicuity with which it was written and spoke drew the close 
attention of the audience, particularly of the gentlemen of 
the Faculty of Physic." 

In this address will be found an exposition of the nature 
and scope of medical science ; a sketch of the departments of 
which it is composed, with the reasons for their special culti- 
vation ; an advocacy of classical, literary, and general scien- 
tific attainments on the part of the student of medicine, and, 
what is pertinent to the purpose, the demonstration that to 
be effectively taught "a coalition is required of able men, who 
would undertake to give complete and regular courses of 
lectures on the different branches of medicine." In connec- 
tion with his statements, the author insists especially upon 
the advantages presented by the city of Philadelphia, to 
which even then students resorted, attracted as well by the 
reputation of it3 practitioners, as by the facilities for clinical 
instruction afforded thena in the hospital. 

In this literary and scientific performance, a prognostica- 
tion was uttered which has been fully realized, viz : " Per- 
haps this Medical Institution, the first of its kind in America, 
though small in its beginning, may receive a constant increase 
of strength and annually exert new vigor. It may collect a 
number of young persons of more than ordinary abilities, and 
so improve their knowledge as to spread its reputation to dis- 
tant parts. By sending these abroad duly qualified, or by 
exciting an emulation amongst men of parts and literature, it 
may give birth to other useful institutions of a similar na- 
ture, or occasional rise, by its example, to numerous societies 



THE UXIYERSITY OF PENNSYLYANIA. 55 

of different kinds calculated to spread the light of know- 
ledge through the whole American continent wherever inha- 
bited.'" 

It is worthy of note that at the time this was uttered the 
population of the city of Philadelphia was about twenty -five 
thousand, and of the colonies in the aggregate less than three 
millions.^ 

In September following the appointment of Dr. Morgan, Dr. 
Shippen was, on application to the Board, unauimously elected 
the Professor of Anatomy and Surgerj^^ The application for 
this position was thus expressed : — 

"To the Trustees of the College, etc.: 

" The institution of Medical Schools in this country has been 
a favorite object of my attention for seven years past, and it 
is three years since I proposed the expediency and practica- 
bility of teaching medicine in all its branches in this city in 
a public oration read at the State House, introductory to my 
first course of Anatomy. 

"I should long since have sought the patronage of the 
Trustees of the College, but waited to be joined by Dr. Mor- 
gan, to whom I first communicated my plan in England, and 
who promised to unite with me in every scheme we might 
think necessary for the execution of so important a point. I 

' A Discourse upon the Institution of Medical Schools in America, 
delivered at a Public Anniversary Commencement, held in the College of 
Philadelphia, May 30 and 31, 1765, with a Preface, containing, amongst 
other things, the Author's Apology for Introducing the Eegular Mode of 
Practising Physic in Philadelphia. By John Morgan, M. D., &c., and Pro- 
fessor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine in the College of Philadel- 
phia. Printed and sold by William Bradford: 1765. A review of this 
Discourse will be found in the North American Medical and Surgical 
Journal, vol. iv. p. 362, written by Prof. Charles D. Meigs, M. D. 

2 In his work upon Yellow Fever, Dr. La Roche has given the data from 
which this conclusion is drawn. Mr. Thomas Smedley makes the same 
statement. The population of the city of Philadelphia, in 1760, was 18,756 ; 
and in 1769 it was 28,042. The rate of increase was then about one thou- 
sand annually. — A Complete Atlas of the City of Philadelphia^ 1862. 

^ At a meeting (special) of the Board of Trustees, held September 23d, 
1765, the following minute was made : " Dr. William Shippen, Jr., applied 
by letter as follows," &c. 



56 MEDICAL DEPAETMEXT OF 

am pleased, however, to hear that you, gentlemen, on being 
applied to by Dr. Morgan, have appointed that gentleman 
Professor of Medicine. A Professorship of Anatomy and 
Surgery will be accepted by, gent., 

" Your most obedient and very humble servant, 

WILLIAM SHIPPEN, Jr. 
"Philadelphia, 17th September, 1765." 

The reputation of Dr. Shippen as a private teacher had 
directed attention to him, and secured his election as particu- 
larly qualified for the post. During his active career of over 
thirty years he well sustained the prestige he had previously 
acquired. 

The Medical School of the College of Philadelphia having 
been founded by the action of the Board of Trustees that has 
been detailed, the announcement was given to the public in 
the "Pennsylvania Gazette," September 26, 1765, as follows : — 

"As the necessity of cultivating medical knowledge in 
America is allowed by all, it is with pleasure we inform the 
public that a Course of Lectures on two of the most import- 
ant branches of that useful science, viz.. Anatomy and Materia 
Medica, will be delivered this winter in Philadelphia. We 
have great reason, therefore, to hope that gentlemen of the 
Faculty will encourage the design by recommending it to 
their pupils, that pupils themselves will be glad of such an 
opportunity of improvement, and that the public will think 
it an object worthy their attention and patronage. 

"In order to render these courses the more extensively 
useful, we intend to introduce into them as much of the 
Theory and Practice of Physic, of Pharmacy, Chemistry, and 
Surgery as can be conveniently admitted. 

" From all this, together with an attendance on the practice 
of the physicians and surgeons of the Pennsylvania Hospital, 
the students will be able to prosecute their studies with such 
advantage as will qualify them to practise hereafter with more 
satisfaction to themselves and benefit to the community. 

"The particular advertisements inserted below specify the 
time when these lectures are to commence, and contain the 



THE UXIYERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 57 

various subjects to be treated of in eacli course, and the terms 
on wbicb pupils are to be admitted. 

WILLIAM SHIPPEN, Jr., M.D., 
" Professor of Anatomy and Surgery in the College of Philadelpliia. 

JOHN MORGAN, M. D., F. R. S., etc., 

" Professor of Medicine in the College of Philadelphia." 

In addition to this general announcement, eacb professor 
advertised his lectures.^ 

For two years lectures were delivered by these two profes- 
sors under the sanction of the College. 

In connection with their labors, Dr. Thomas Bond, one of 
the physicians of the Pennsylvania Hospital, commenced a 
course of Clinical Lectures in that institution. He submitted 
a lecture that he had prepared, introductory to his course, to 
the Board of Managers and his medical colleagues, which was 
directed to be inserted on the minutes of the Board. This 
lecture was publicly delivered on the third of December, 
1766. It is a clear exposition of the advantages of clinical 
instruction in connection with medical education, at the same 
time evincing a deep interest in the medical school recently 
established, to which, as a trustee of the College, Dr. Bond 
had most zealously given his influence. In proof of this, the 
following passages may be quoted : — 

" Therefore, from principles of patriotism and humanity, 
the Physic School here should meet all the protection and 
encouragement the friends of their country and well-wishers of 
mankind can possibly give it. Though it is yet in its infancy, 
from the judicious treatment of its guardians it is already 
become a forward child, and has the promising appearance of 
soon arriving at a vigorous and healthy maturity. The pro- 
fessors in it at present are few, but their departments include 
the most essential parts of education. Another teacher whose 
distinguished abilities will do honor to his country and the 
Institution, is expected to join them in the spring; and I 
think he has little faith, who can doubt that so good an 
undertaking will ever fail of additional strength and provi- 

' See Appendix A. 



58 MEDICAL DEPAKTMENT OF 

dential blessing ; and I am certain nothing would give me so 
much pleasure as to have it in my power to contribute the 
least mite towards its perfect establishment. 

" The Professor of Anatomy and Physiology is well quali- 
fied for his task, his dissections are accurate and elegant, and 
his lectures learned, judicious and clear. 

'• The Professor of the Theory and Practice or Physic has 
had'the best opportunities of improvement, joined to genius 
and application, and cannot fail of giving necessary and in- 
structive lessons to the pupils."^ 

In 1766, Dr. Shippen's course was announced publicly on 
the 18th of September. That of Dr. Morgan was also an- 
nounced on the 25th of the same month in these terms: 
" A Course of Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Physic 
will be delivered for the benefit of medical students, with a 
preparatory course on Botany, Chemistry, and the Materia 
Medica, being the substance of a set of lectures, delivered to 
his pupils last winter." This, then, in reality was the first 
course of lectures on the practice of medicine. 

The year 1766 was further memorable in the annals of the 
College for the award of a gold medal to Dr. Morgan for a 
prize essay. The following advertisement explains the nature 
of the transaction: — 

"College of Philadelphia, March 6t]i, 1866. 

" "Whereas, John Sargent, Esq., Merchant of London and 
Member of Parliament, hath presented to this College a Gold 
Medal for the best English Essay on the reciprocal advantages 
of a perpetual union between Great Britain and her American 
Colonies, notice is hereby given by order of the Trustees, 
that the said Medal will be disposed of at the ensuing Com- 
mencement in May, for the best Essay that shall be produced 
on the subject proposed, by any one of those who have 
received any degree or part of their education in this College; 
and, as the said subject is one of the most important which 
can at this time employ the pen of the patriot or scholar, and 
is thus left open to all those who have had any connection 
with this College, either as students or graduates, it is hoped 

' This lecture was published in the " North American Medical and 
Surgical Journal," Ucl. 1827, page 266. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 59 

for the honor of the Seminary, as well' as their own, they will 
nobh^ exert themselves on a subject so truly animating, which 
may be treated in a manner alike interesting to good men, 
both here and in the Mother countr}^" 

From nine performances which were presented, the Com- 
mittee of Trustees selected that of Dr. Morgan, and at the 
Commencement held May 20th, 1766, immediately after the 
valedictory oration, "the Hon. John Penn, Esq., Governor of 
the Province, as President of the Trustees of the College, 
delivered the medal to the Provost, ordering him to confer it 
in public agreeably to their previous determination. The 
Provost accordingly acquainted the, audience that the same 
had been decreed to John Morgan, M. D., F. K. S., &c.. Pro- 
fessor of the Theory and Practice of Physic in the College of 
Philadelphia, and then requested Dr. Morgan to dehver his 
dissertation in public, which being finished, the eulogium 
accompanied the conferring of the medal. "^ 

In 1767, a further movement was made towards a more tho- 
rough organization of the medical department, and placing it 
upon a proper footing in connection with collegiate privileges. 

The medical gentlemen of the Board of Trustees, with the 
two Professors and the Provost, William Smith, D.D., united 
in framing a code of rules for the new department. These 
were submitted to the Board of Trustees at the meeting of 
May 12th, 1767, when they were approved and adopted. 
The announcement given to the public press indicates the 
action taken as being supposed to promote the interests of the 
school and of the profession.^ 

" College of Philadelphia, July 27th, 1767. 
"At a meeting of the Trustees, held the 12th of May last, 
it being moved to the Board that conferring the usual degrees 

' The essay was published, with others, under the title, " Four Disserta- 
tions on the reciprocal advantages of a perpetual union between Great 
Britain and her American Colonies, written for Mr. Sargent's Prize Medal, 
to whicli by desire is prefixed an Eulogium, spoken on the delivery of the 
medal at the public Commencement of the College of Philadelphia, May 
20th, 1166. Philadelphia : Printed by William and Thomas Bradford, at 
the London Coffee House, 1766." 

* I'ennsylvania Gazette. / 



60 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

in Physic on deserving students will tend to put the Practice 
' of Physic on a more respectable footing in America ; the mo- 
tion was unanimously agreed to ; and the following Course 
of Studies and Qualifications, after mature deliberation, was 
fixed on and enacted as requisite to entitle physical students 
to their different degrees. 

" For a Bachelor's Degree in Physic : — 
" 1. It is required that such students as have not taken a 
Degree in any College shall, before admission to a degree in 
Physic, satisfy the Trustees and Professors of the College 
concerning their knowledge in the Latin tongue, and in such 
branches of Mathematics, Natural and Experimental Philoso- 
phy as shall be judged requisite to a medical education. 

"2. Each student shall attend at least one course of lectures 
in Anatomy, Materia Medica, Chemistry, the Theory and 
Practice of Phj^sic, and one course of Clynical (sic) Lectures, 
and shall attend the Practice of the Pennsylvania Hospital for 
one year, and may then be admitted to a Public Examination 
for a Bachelor's Degree, provided that on previous examina- 
tion by the Medical Trustees and Professors, and such other 
Trustees and Professors as choose to attend, such Students 
shall be judged fit to undergo a public examination without 
attending any more courses in the Medical School. 

"3. It is further required that each student, previous to the 
Bachelor's Degree, shall have served a sufficient apprentice- 
ship to some reputable Practitioner in Physic, and be able 
to make it appear that he has a general knowledge in Phar- 
macy. 

" Qualifications for a Doctor's Degree in Physic : — 
" It is required for this Degree that at least three years have 
intervened from the time of taking the Bachelor's Degree, and 
that the Candidate be full 24 years of age, and that he shall 
write and defend a Thesis publicly in the College, unless he 
should be beyond seas, or so remote on the continent of 
America as not to be able to attend without manifest incon- 
venience ; in which case, on sending a written thesis, such as 
shall be approved of by the College, the candidate may re- 
ceive the Doctor's Degree, but his thesis shall be printed and 
published at his own expense. 



THE UXIVERSITY OF PEXNSYLVAXIA. 61 

"This scheme of a medical education is proposed to be on 
as extensive and liberal a plan as in the most respectable 
European Seminaries, and the utmost provision is made for 
rendering a Degree a real mark of Honor, the reward only of 
distinguished learning and abilities. As it is calculated to 
promote the Benefit of Mankind by the improvement of the 
beneficent Art of Healing and to afford an opportunity to 
students of acquiring a regular medical education in America, 
it is hoped it will meet with public encouragement, more 
especially as the central situation of this city, the established 
character of the Medical Professors, the advantages of the 
College and of the public Hospital, all conspire to promise 
success to the Design. 

" For the further advantage of medical students, a course of 
Lectures will be given by the Professor of Natural and Ex- 
perimental Philosophy each winter in the College, where there 
is an elegant and compleat {sic) apparatus provided for that 
purpose, and where medical students may have an opportunity 
of completing themselves in the Languages and any parts of 
the Mathematics at their leisure hours." 

The lectures were further advertised to commence on the 
first Monday of ISTovember, and "to consist of a complete 
course of lectures on Anatomy, to which will be added all 
the operations in Surgery, and the mode of applying all the 
necessary bandages, &c." 

"A course of Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Medi- 
cine, which will be preceded by a general explanation of the 
Theory of Chemistry, accompanied with some necessary ope- 
rations to render a knowledge of this science easy and familiar 
to the inquisitive student." 

"A course of Clynical Lectures, to be delivered in the Penn- 
sylvania Hospital wherein the Treatment of both Acute and 
Chroxic Diseases will be exemplified in the cases of a great 
number of Patients. 

" Each course of Lectures will be finished by the beginning 
of May, in time for those who intend to offer as candidates 
for a Degree in Physic to prepare themselves for the Exami- 
nation before the Commencement of the ensuing year." 

Appended to this general advertisement were those of each 



62 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

professor with his own signature, and additionally that of Dr. 
Bond, in the following terms : " Dr. Bond's Course of Clynical 
Lectures, exemplifying the Theory and Practice of Physic, in 
the variety of Cases which present in the Pennsylvania Hos- 
pital, will be opened early in November, by a Introductory 
Lecture on the usefulness of a Medical School in America, and 
the necessity of a general Scientific Education to the students 
of Physic. To which will be added a Plan of the Course." 

The lecture of Dr. Bond, of which no further record has 
been left, was apparently supplemental to the one already 
referred to, and shows how deeply interested he was in the 
success of the great experiment then in operation. A just 
appreciation of the efforts of Dr. Bond to aid the collegiate 
instruction, was entertained by the Board of Trustees. On 
their minutes of May, 1768, we find this entry : " Dr. Bond is 
requested by the Trustees and Professors to continue his 
Clynical Lectures at the Hospital, as a Branch of Medical 
Education judged to be of great importance and benefit to the 
students." We cannot find, however, that he was formally 
appointed professor. He continued to execute the duty of 
clinical instructor until his death in 1784, when clinical medi- 
cine had no especial representative until it was united with 
the Institutes in 1792. 

The lectures upon Natural and Experimental Philosophy, 
were delivered by the Rev. Dr. William Smith, D. D., LL. D., 
the Provost of the- College.^ The announcement issued at 
the time explains their nature. 

"College op Philadelphia, December 17tli, 1767. 

*' At the request of the Medical Trustees and Professors, the 
subscriber having last winter opened a course of Lectures on 
Natural and Experimental Philosophy, for the benefit of the 
Medical Students, which he hath engaged to continue this 
winter on an extensive plan, notice is hereby given that on 
Monday, the 28th iust., at 12 oc, it is proposed to deliver the 
Introductory Lecture at the College. As these lectures are 

• The Rev. William Smith, D. D., LL. D., was Provost of the College 
from 17r)3 to 1779, when the charter was abrogated and the University 
instituted. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PEXXSYLVANIA. 63 

instituted and given gratis, with the view to encourage the 

medical schools lately opened, and to extend the usefulness 

and reputation of the College, any gentlemen who have 

formerly been educated in this Seminary, and are desirous 

of renewing their acquaintance with the above mentioned 

branches of knowledge, will be welcome 'to attend the course. 

" To the standing use of the large apparatus belonging to 

the College, Mr. Kinnersley' has engaged to add the use of 

his electrical apparatus which is fixed there, and to deliver 

the lectures on electricity himself, as well as to give his 

occasional assistance in other branches; so that with these 

advantages, and the many years' experience of the subscriber 

in conducting lectures of this kind, it is hoped the present 

course will answer the design of its institution and do credit 

to the Seminary. 

W. SMITH. 

"N. B. — An evening lecture in some branches of Mathe- 
matics, preparatory to the philosophical course, is opened at 
the College." 

' Ebenezer Kinnerslej-, A. M., was Professor of Oratory and English 
Literature in the College from 1753 to 1773. He was interested in elec- 
tricity, and aided Dr. Franklin in his experiments. See Life of Franklin 
by Dr. Stuber, and Lectures on Natural Philosophy by Rev. Dr. Ewing. 



G'i MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 



CHAPTEB Y. 

• 

Dr. Adam Knlin ; education and appointment to the professorship of 
botany and materia medica — Fees of the college — Degree of Bachelor of 
Medicine conferred in 1768 — Degree of Doctor of Medicine conferred in 
New York in 1769 — Commencement exercises of the college on the occa- 
sion of conferring the degree of M. B. — Dr. Benjamin Rush ; his educa- 
tion and correspondence while in Europe ; appointment to the professor- 
ship of chemistry — First faculty of medicine organized — Commencement 
of 1771. 

The next addition to the faculty was in the person of Dr. 
Adam Kuhn. He was born at Germantown, Philadelphia 
County, in 1741. His father was a native of Swabia, a physi- 
cian by profession, and a man of bright parts and liberal edu- 
cation. Having removed to Lancaster-in Pennsjdvania, where 
he became a magistrate, " he was deeply interested in the pro- 
motion of classical learning amongst the youth of that place, 
and for this end procured the erection of a school-house, in 
which the Greek and Latin languages were taught by the best 
qualified masters." Under such auspices Dr. Kuhn received 
his elementary education, and commenced his medical studies 
with the advantage of parental direction. 

In 1761, Dr. Kuhn went to Europe, and, deviating thus far 
from the course pursued by his colleagues, resorted to Sweden 
for instruction in botany and materia medica, at the hands of 
Linnaeus, then at the height of his renown. He subsequently 
went to Edinburgh, and received the degree of Doctor of 
Medicine from that University in 1767. The thesis, published 
by him on that occasion, "i>e Lavatione Frigida^''^ was dedi- 
cated to his friend and instructor Linnseus. The letters of 
that eminent naturalist to the father of Dr. Kuhn evince the 
deep interest he took in the son, and the particular estimation 
he had conceived of his abilities.' 

' A sketch of the life of Dr. Kuhn was communicated anonymously to 
the 8th vol. Eclectic Repository. It was written by Dr. S. Powell Griffiths. 



THE UXIVERSITY OF PEXXSYLVAXIA, . 65 

In January, 1768, Dr. Kiihn returned from Europe, when 
he was at once appointed the Professor of Materia Medica and 
Botany in the College. These subjects had been taught by 
Dr. Moro-an in connection with his course on the Theory and 
Practice of Physic; but the necessity of creating a distinct 
Professorship, appropriated to their consideration, was. im- 
pressed upon the Board of Trustees, and Dr. Kuhn, from his 
training in the natural sciences, was regarded as its most 
fitting incumbent. The record thus refers to his election : — 

" Dr. Kuhn having made application to be appointed Pro- 
fessor of Botany and Materia Medica in this College, declar- 
ing that he would do the utmost in his power to merit the 
honor, and the Trustees having ample assurance of his abili- 
ties to fill that Professorship, for which he is likewise parti- 
cularly recommended by the Medical Trustees and Professors 
belonging to the College itself, did therefore unanimously 
appoint him, the said Dr. Kuhn, Professor of Botany and 
Materia Medica in this College, agreeably to his request." 

His first course was on Botany, in May, 1768, three months 
after his arrival from Europe. In the following year, on May 
1st, we find that Dr. Kuhn's course on the same branch was 
announced, but it appears in subsequent years to have been 
dropped. 

Dr. Kuhn held the Chair of Materia Medica during twenty- 
one years, under the auspices of the College and University, 
until he assumed the Chair of Practice, as will be seen by the 
account hereafter given of the changes in the Medical Faculty.. 

The subject of fees in the College is one of some interest.. 
With respect to the particular compensation for instruction 
we cannot find that there was any legislative action when 
the lectures were first inaugurated, and can only judge of 
the amount from the advertisements of the professors. The 
first regulation with respect to fees, more especially having 
reference to graduation, is found on the Minutes of the Board 
of Trustees of May 17, 1768, to wit:— 

" The following Eules brought forward by the Medical 
Committee of Trustees and Professors were agreed to, viz : — 

" 1. Such Medical Students as propose to be Candidates for 
Degrees, and likewise such other Medical Students as shall 



Q6 MEDICAL* DEPARTMENT OF 

attend the Natural Philosophy Lectures now given by the 
Provost, and whose names have never been entered in the 
College, shall enter the same, and pay the usual sum of Twenty 
Shillings Mah'iculation Money. 

" 2. Every student on taking the Degree of Bachelor of 
Physic shall pay not less than one Guinea to each Professor 
he has studied under in the College, from the time of his en- 
tering the Medical Classes ; and likewise the usual Fees for 
the seal to his Diploma, and for the increase of the Library. 

" 3. Each Medical Student who shall pay one Dollar for the 
use of the Library (exclusive of the Fee of Commencements) 
shall have his name entered, and have the free use of the 
Books belonging to the Medical Library of the College during 
his continuance of the same and attendance of lectures under 
the Medical Professors." 

The price of tickets for a single course, ^.e., to each professor, 
was determined not to exceed six pistoles ($20), and after two 
courses the students had the privilege of attending gratis. 

The next event in the order of time is an important one in 
the history of the medical school. The bestowal of the first 
medical honors by the institution, and the first in America, 
in itself constitutes an epoch. Under the regulations that had 
been adopted this event took place on June 21st, 1768. 

The question as to which medical school, that of Philadel- 
phia or that of New York, the honor of priority is to be 
awarded in the bestowal of degrees has been a mooted one. Dr. 
Hosack claims the distinction for New York, and comments 
in the following language with reference to it: "Dr. Sewall, 
in his excellent Introductory Lecture, delivered at the open- 
ing of the Medical School of Columbian College, District of 
Columbia, also^ is in error in his statement relative to the 
first medical degrees conferred in the colonies, now the United 
States. In the discourse referred to he dates the first medical 
degrees as conferred at the Commencement held in Philadel- 
phia on June, 1771, whereas the doctorate had been previously 
conferred in the month of May of the preceding year in the 

' The word " also" has reference to a mistake of Dr. Miller in his Retro- 
spect of the Eighteenth Century, who stated that no degrees in medicine 
were conferred by King's College, New York, previously to the Revolution. 



THE UXIVERSITY OF PEXNSYLVAXIA. 67 

city of ISTew York. The same error has been committed by 
Dr. Thatcher, in the new edition of his Modern Practice re- 
cently published."^ 

Dr. Beck reiterates this statement when referring to the 
schools. He informs his readers that the schools thus started 
in New York and Philadelphia were the only ones attempted 
before the Eevolution. " The first medical degrees were given 
by the College of New York. In 1769, the degree of Bache- 
lor in Medicine was conferred upon Samuel Kissam and 
Eobert Tucker. In 1770 the degree of Doctor of Medicine 
was conferred on the last of these gentlemen, and in May of 
the following year upon the former. In June, 1771, the 
degree of Doctor in Medicine was conferred on four students 
of the Philadelphia College, being the first given in the insti- 
tution."^ 

The truth is that Dr. Sewall, in his lecture, correctly pre- 
sented the fact, overlooked by Dr. Hosack, that in June, 
1768, the first Commencement of the College of Philadelphia 
was held, at which the degree of Bachelor of Medicine was 
conferred, and further stated that "at the Commencement 
in 1771, the degree of M. B. was conferred on seven, and 
the degree of M. D. on four students."^ This latter statement 
is made by Dr. Thatcher in his History of American Medi- 
cine, prefixed to his Medical Biography, without reference to 
any previous Commencement. With respect to the pros- 
pective conferring of degrees Dr. Morgan, in writing to Mr. 
William Hewson, of London, November 20th, 1767, thus 
expresses himself: — 

"I have twenty pupils this year at about five guineas each. 
Next year we shall confer the degree of Bachelor in Physic 

' An Inaugural Discourse delivered at the opening of Rutgers Medical 
College in the City of New York, on Monday the 6th day of November, 
182G, by David Hosack, M. D., F. R. S. 

2 An Historical Sketch of the State of Medicine in the American Colonies, 
etc., ante citat. 

' A Lecture delivered at the opening of the Medical Department of the 
Columbian College, in the District of Columbia, March 30th, 1825, by 
Thomas Sewall, M. D., Professor of Anatomy and Physiology, Washing- 
ton City, 1825. Note to page 26 at p. 67. This note w^as furnished by 
Prof. J. R. Coxe, M. D., in a letter to Dr. Sewall, and is correct in all 
particulars. 



68 MEDICAL DEPAETMEXT OF 

on several of them, and that of Doctor in three j^ears after. 
New York Las copied us, and has six Professors, three of 
whom you know, to wit. Bard, Professor of Physic; Teniiant, 
of Midwifery; and Smith, in Chemistry; besides whom are 
Dr. Jones, Professor of Surgery; Middleton, of Physiology; 
and Glossy, of Anatomy. Time will show in what light we 
are to consider the rivalship ; for my part, I do not seem to 
be ander great apprehensions.'" 

The degree of Bachelor of Medicine was conferred, in 1769, 
by King's College, New York, and the degree of Doctor of 
Medicine in 1770. From this it appears that the claim of 
priority in conferring degrees in medicine must be awarded to 
the Philadelphia School, while the precedence in conferring 
the Doctorate must be given to New York. 

As all the points connected with the mode of proceeding in 
the infancy of the school are worthy of notice, the resolutions 
with regard to the examination of applicants have been 
transcribed from the Minutes of the College of May 17, 1768. 

' In July, 1767, the first measures were taken in New York; and in 
1768, a Medical Bcliool was organized under the direction and government 
of the College, which was then called King's College. A Board of Pro- 
fessors was then appointed to teach the several branches of Medical Science. 
The instructors in this early school were Samuel Clossy, M. D., Professor 
of Anatomy ; John Jones, M. D., Professor of Surgery ; Peter Middleton, 
M. D., Professor of Physiology and Pathology ; James Smith, M. D., Pro- 
fessor of Chemistry and Materia Medica; John V. B. Tennant, M. D., 
Professor of Midwifery ; and Samuel Bard, M. D., Professor of the Theory 
and Practice of Physic. 

The occupation of the city of New York by the British army for so long 
a period of the war prevented the continuance of the operations of this 
school. After the peace of 1783, the former medical professors, being 
separated by death or accident, never as a body were reinstated in their 
former situation in the College. An effort was made to resuscitate the Medi- 
cal School, but was unsuccessful. In 1792, Columbia College, which had 
superseded King's College, instituted a Medical Faculty at the head of 
which was Dr. Samuel Bard. But the effort had not much success, as "it 
appears from the records of Columbia College since 1792, the time when 
the Medical Faculty of that School was organized, to the year 1811, thirty- 
four students have completed their courses of study, and received the medi- 
cal honors of that institution." The College of Physicians and Surgeons 
of New York was established in 1807. — Hosack''s Introductory. Beckys 
Sketch ; also Historical Sketch of the Origin, Progress, and Present State of 
the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Jlnroersity of New York. 
American Medical and Philosophical Register, vol. iv. 1814. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PEXXSYLVANIA. 69 

"It Avas agreed that in pursuance of a Proposal given in by 
the Medical Trustees and Professors, the examination of the 
Medical Students for the degree of Bachelor of Physic shall 
be made in the following mode, according to the Kule origi- 
nally laid down for the Medical Schools, which requires a 
full private examination before admission to the public one. 

'•Wherefore the private examination shall begin in the 
College, on the 9th of May, being Monday next, and shall be 
finished on Monda}^, the 16th. Such of the Medical Students 
as may appear fit, after such private examination, shall be 
admitted to a public examination in the College on Wednes- 
day, the 18th of May." 

The ceremonies attending the Commencement of June 21, 
1768, are minutely detailed upon the Minutes of the Board 
of -Trustees, and are full of interest in connection with the 
customs of the time. They are thus set forth : — 

" This "day may be considered as the Birth-day of Medical 
Honors in America. The Trustees being met at half an hour 
past nine in the forenoon, and the several Professors and 
Medical Candidates, in their proper Habits, proceeded from the 
Apparatus Room to the Public Hall, where a polite assembly 
of their fellow-citizens were convened to honor the Solemnity. 

" The Provost having there received the Mandate for the 
Commencement from his Honor the Governor, as President 
of the Trustees, introduced the business of the day with 
Prayers and a short Latin Oration, suited to the occasion. 
The part alluding to the School of Medicine is in the follow- 
ing language : — 

" ' Oh ! Factum bene ! Yos quoque Professores Medici, 
qui magno nummi, temporis et laboris sumptu, longa quoque 
peregrinatione per varias regiones, et populos, domum re- 
duxistis et peritiam, et nobile consilium servandi, et rationali 
praxi, docendi alios servare valetudinem vestrum civium. 
Gratum fecistis omnibus, sed pergratum certe peritis illis 
medicis, qui artis suae dignitatis conscii, praxin rationalem, 
et juventutis institutionem in re medica liberalem, hisce re- 
gionibus, ante vos longe desideraverunt.' 

" To this succeeded — 

"1. A Latin oration, delivered by Mr. John Lawrence, 



70 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

'De Honoribus qui in omni sevo in veros Medicinse cultores 
collati fuerint.' 

" 2. A dispute, whether the Eetina or Tunica Choroides be the 
immediate seat of vision ? The argument for the retina was 
ingeniously maintained by Mr. Cowell ; the opposite side of 
the question was supported with great acuteness by Mr. Ful- 
lerton, who contended that the Eetina is incapable of the office 
ascribed to it, on account of its being easily permeable to the 
rays of light, and that the choroid coat, by its being opaque, 
is the proper part for stopping the rays, and receiving the 
picture of the object. 

"3. Questio, num detur Fluidum Nervosum? Mr.Duffield 
held the affirmative, and Mr. Way the negative, both with 
great learning. 

"4. Mr. Tilton delivered an essa}^ ' On Eespiration,' and 
the manner in which it was performed did credit to his 
abilities. 

" 5. The Provost then conferred the degree of Bachelor 
of Medicine on the following gentlemen, viz : Messrs. John 
Archer, of New Castle County ; Benjamin Cowell, of Bucks ; 
Samuel Duffield and Jonathan Potts, of Philadelphia ; Jona- 
than Elmer, of New Jersey ; Humphrey Fullerton, of Lan- 
caster County ; David Jackson, of Chester County; John Law- 
rence, of East Jersey; James Tilton, of Kent County, Dela- 
ware ; and Nicholas Way, of Wilmington. 

"6. An elegant valedictory oration was spoken by Mr. 
Potts, ' On the Advantages derived in the Study of Physic, 
from a previous liberal education in the other sciences.' 

" The Provost then addressed the Graduates in a brief Ac- 
count of the present state of the College, and of the quick 
progress in the various extensive establishments it hath 
already made. He pointed out the general causes of the 
advancement as well as decline of literature in different Nations 
of the World, and observed to the Graduates, that as they 
were the first who had received medical honors in America, 
on a regular Collegiate plan, it depended much on them, by 
their future conduct and eminence, to place such honors in 
estimation among their countrymen; concluding with an 
earnest appeal that they would never neglect the opportuni- 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PENTXSYLVAXIA. 71 

ties wliich their profession would give them, when their art 
could be of no further service to the bod}^, of making serious 
impressions on their patients, and showing themselves men 
of consolation and piety, especially at the awful approach of 
death, which could not fail to have singular weight from a 
lay character. 

" Dr. Shippen, Professor of Anatomy and Surgery, then 
gave the remainder of the charge, further inviting the Grra- 
duates to support the dignity of their Profession by a lauda- 
ble perseverance in their studies, and by a Practice becoming 
the character of gentlemen ; adding many useful precepts 
respecting their conduct towards their patients, charity 
towards the poor, humanity towards all ; and with reference 
to the opportunities they might have of gaining the confi- 
dence of the sick, and esteem of every one who by theiir 
vio-ilance and skill mio-ht be relieved from sufferino- and 
restored to health. 

"The Yice-Provost concluded the whole with Prayer and 
Thanksgiving."^ 

At a public Commencement held June 30, 1769, the degree 
of Bachelor of Medicine was conferred on eight candidates, 
viz: James Armstrong, John Hodge, John Houston, Josias 
Carroll Hall, Thomas Pratt, Alexander Skinner, Myndert 
Yeeder, and John Winder. The exercises were of a charac- 
ter similar to the preceding, the charge being given by Dr. 
Bond.2 

In the year 1769, Dr. Benjamin Rush, on his return from 
Europe, was elected Professor of Chemistry. He was born 
in Pennsylvania, in 17tto. His classical education was com- 
menced at the celebrated school of Rev. Dr. Finley, at ISTot- 
tingham, in Mar3dand ; and so well trained was he that he 
entered the Senior Class at Princeton College, and graduated 
at the expiration of the term in 1760, when hardly sixteen 
years of age. President Davies was then at the head of the 
Institution. The next six years of his life were spent in the 
study of medicine with Dr. Redman, and he was one of the 

' The account is published in the Pennsylvania Gazette, Jul}', 17G8. 
2 See Appendix B. 



72 MEDICAL DEPAKTMENT OF 

first pupils in attendance upon the lectures of Dr. Shippen. 
In 1766 he went to Edinburgh, where, in 1768, he took his 
degree of Doctor of Medicine; the same year in which the 
first medical honors were conferred in America. The subject 
of his thesis was " De coctione ciborum in ventriculo." 

It is stated by Dr. Eamsay, in his eulogium, "that the 
Writings of Hippocrates were among the first books Benjamin 
Rush read in Medicine, and, while he was an apprentice, 
translated his Aphorisms from Greek into English. He also 
began to keep a note-book of remarkable occurrences, the 
plan of which he afterwards improved and continued through 
life. J'rom a part of this record, written in the seventeenth 
year of his age, we derive the only account of the yellow 
fever of 1762, which has descended to posterity." An account 
of this same epidemic has recently been published by the 
College of Physicians of Philadelphia, from a manuscript of 
Dr. Redman, found among its Archives.^ 

The desire of Dr. Rush to become the incumbent of the 
Chair of Chemistry in the Medical School of Philadelphia,' 
Avas formed while he was still a student at Edinburgh, and in 
this he was evidently supported by the friendly suggestions 
of Dr. Morgan. In a letter to this gentleman, dated Jan. 20, 
1768, he thus expresses himself: " I exult in the happy pros- 
pects, which now open upon yon, of the success of the Medi- 
cal Schools you have established in Philadelphia. The scheme 
you have published for conferring degrees in Physic has met 
with the approbation of Dr. Cullen himself, who interests 
himself warmly in everything that relates to your reputation 
or success in life; he thinks himself happy, he says, in edu- 
cating those young men to whom so important a Medical 
College as that in Philadelphia will owe its foundation and 
future credit." 

" I thank you for the pains you have taken to secure me 
the Professorship of Chemistry. I think I am now master of 

' An Account of the Yellow Fever, as it prevailed in Philadelphia in 
the Autumn of 1762, by John Redman, M. D., First President of the Col- 
lege. A paper presented to the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, at 
its stated meeting, September 7, 1793, now for the first time published by 
order of the College, 1865. 



THE UXIVERSITY OF PEXNSYLVAXIA. 73 

the science, and could teacTi it with confidence and ease. I 
have attended Dr. Black for two years diligently, and have, I 
think, received from him a comprehensive and accurate vieAV 
of the science, together with all his late improvements in 
chemistry, which are of so important a nature that no man, 
in my opinion, can understand or teach chemistry as a 
science without being acquainted with them." "As to the 
experiments you speak of, there is scarcely one of them but 
what I have seen twice performed, either publickly or pri- 
vately, by Dr. Black." Again: " I would not, however, urge 
your interest too warmly in this affair; perhaps I may dis- 
appoint the expectations of the Trustees, and prevent a 
person better qualified from filling the chair. I should like 
to teach Chemistry as a Professor, because I think I could 
show its application to medicine and philosophy." " I should 
likewise be able more fully, from having a seat in the Col- 
lege, to co-operate with you in advancing the Medical Sciences 
generally." 

Of the certainty of his election Dr. Eush must have re- 
ceived an intimation, as in October, 1768, he thus wrote from 
London to Dr. Morgan: " I am much obliged to you for con- 
tinuing to read lectures upon Chemistry. I hope to be in 
Philadelphia in May or June next, so that I shall relieve 
you from the task the ensuing winter. Is it necessary for 
me to deliver publickly an Inaugural Oration ? Something 
must be said in favor of the advantages of Chemistry to 
Medicine, and its usefulness to medical philosophy, as the 
people of our country in general are strangers to the nature 
and objects of the science." 

The language of Dr. Eash, in the extracts from his corres- 
pondence which have been presented, indicates that although 
conscious of his own acquirements, ambitious of advance- 
ment in connection with usefulness, animated almost by a 
prescience of the distinction to which he ultimately attained, 
and relying on a will and industry to secure success in the 
position he desired, he was still diffident in the expression of 
his fitness for the office. 

The wishes of Dr. Eush were fully realized. At a meet- 
ing of the Board of Trustees, July 23, 1769, a letter was read 



74 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

from Thomas Penn, Esq., dated May, 1769, of wliicli tlie fol- 
lowing is a copy: — 

"Gentlemen: Dr. Eusli having been recommended to me 
by Dr. Fothergill as a very expert Chymist, and the Doctor 
liaving further recommended to me to send a Chymical Appa- 
ratus to the College, as a Thing that will be of great use, 
particularly in the tryal of ores, I send you such as Dr. 
Fothergill thought necessary, under the care of Dr. Eush, 
which I desire your acceptance of. I recommend Dr. Eush 
to your notice, and humbly wishing success to the College, 
remain, with great regard, 

"Your very affectionate friend, 

THOS. PENN. 
"To tlie Trustees of tlie College of Pliiladelpliia." 

The following is a part of an address to the Hon. Thomas 
Penn, Esq., approved and signed August 1, 1769: — 

" We have likewise the pleasure to acknowledge a fresh 
instance of your benevolence in sending us a Chemical Appa- 
ratus under the care of Dr. Eush, who will meet with all the 
encouragement from us due to your recomraendation and his 
own good character." 

At the same meeting, a letter was submitted by Dr. Eush, 
applying for the Professorship of Chemistry. 

" Gentlemen : As the Professorship of Chemistry, which 
Dr. Morgan hath some time supplied, is vacant, I beg to 
offer myself as a Candidate for it. Should you think proper 
to honor me with the Chair, you may depend upon my doing 
anj^thing that lies in my power to discharge the duties of a 
Professor, and to promote the reputation and interest of your 
College. 

" I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect. 

Your most obedient, humble servant, 

BENJ. RUSH. 

" PniLADELPHiA, July 31, 1769." 

" In consequence of the above application, and in con- 
sideration of Dr. Eush's character as an able Chemist, he was 



THE UNIYEESITY OF PEXXSYLVANIA. 75 

unanimously appointed Professor of Chemistry in the Col- 
lege." 

From the more complete organization of the Medical 
Facult}^, effected in the manner now detailed, the session of 
1769-70 may be regarded as the commencement of greater 
vigor in the School. The Announcement stood as follows: — 

Theory and Practice of Medicine, JoHX Mokgan, M. D. 
Anatomy, Surgery, and Midwifery, Wm. Shippen, Jk., M.D. 
Materia Medica and Botany, Adam Kuhn, M. D. 

Chemistr}^, Benjamin Eush, M. D. 

Clinical Medicine, Thomas Bond, M. D. 

Additionally to the strictlj^ medical courses, the Eev. Dr. 
Smith, Provost, delivered lectures on Natural Philosophy to 
the Class.i 

It may be of interest to know the ages of the above-named 
members of the Faculty of Medicine at the period of its exist- 
ence in 1769. Like the School itself, the Professors Avould, 
in these days, be considered juvenile ; but in the vigor of 
their youth, they were capable of accomplishing great things, 
and failed not in their endeavor. Eush was but twenty-four 
years old ; Kuhn but twenty-eight ; Shippen thirty -three ; 
and Morgan thirty-four. Bond only had arrived at that age 
when experience is supposed to bring the greatest wisdojn ; 
he was over fifty years. 

At the Commencement before referred to in June, 1771, 
the degree of Bachelor of Physic was conferred on Benjamin 
Allison, Jonathan Easton, John Kuhn, Frederick Kuhn, Bodo 
Otto, Eobert Pottinger, and William Smith. 

Four graduates who had received the primary degree in 
1768, now received that of Doctor of Medicine, viz : Jonathan 
Potts, Avhose thesis was " De Febribus Intermittentibus Po- 
tissimum Tertianis ;" James Tilton, " De Ilydrope ;" Nicholas 
Way, " De Yariolarum Insitione;" Jonathan Elmer, " De 
Causis et Eemediis sitis in Febribus."'' 

The theses of these gentlenien were written in the Latin 

' Appendix C. 2 Appendix D. 



76 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

language, and, according to tlie rule heretofore given, as 
enacted in 1767, were published. 

Professor Beck has fallen "pariially into error in his inte- 
resting historical sketch, when he states that no medical 
journal of any description appears to have been published until 
after the war of our Independence ; and that " the only inau- 
gural dissertation that was published was from the New York 
College in 1771, by Samuel Kissam, M.D., 'On the Anthel- 
mintic Virtue of the Phasceolus Zuratensis;' 'Siliqua Hir- 
suta, or Cow-itch,' a copy of which may be seen in the 
library of the New York Historical Society." In this he is 
evidently mistaken, for the theses of the graduates of the 
College of Philadelphia were published in 1771, and are now 
in existence. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PENXSYLVAXIA. 



CHAPTEE YI. 

Counection between the medical department of the College of Philadelphia 
and that of the Uniyersity of Edinburgh — Sketch of the origin of the 
Edinburgh school and of its position in 1768 — Dr. Cullen. 

From a comparison of the course of instruction in the Col- 
lege of Philadelphia, from the time of its inception to that of 
its complete organization, ^vith that of the University of 
Edinburgh, there can be no doubt that ■ this distinguished 
school was taken as the model for imitation. 

The individuals who composed the medical faculty of the 
College, the first occupants of the chairs, were graduates of 
the- Edinburgh school, and had unavoidably acquired an 
affection and preference for its system of instruction. They 
were familiar with all its details and methods ; and on 
assuming their positions the bright days of their student life 
were vivid in their memories. Eegarding with reverence 
and enthusiastic admiration the men who had been their 
preceptors, it was most natural that these zealous colonial 
students should desire to transfer to their native shores the 
peculiar doctrines that had been inculcated, as well as the 
stores of learning of which they had been the recipients. 

But further, between our own school and that of Edinburgh 
the parallelism is so close as to be worthy of particular atten- 
tion; indeed, the resemblance can only be explained by the 
laws of descent which mould the features of the child lilve 
those of the parent, and impart similar moral and mental cha- 
racteristics. The medical school of Philadelphia may be said 
to be the legitimate offspring of that of Edinburgh. The 
latter had its origin with the Scotch students in attendance 
upon the lectures of the University of Leyden, who forty 
years previously were actuated by the same motives which 
prompted the American students, while abroad, to the projec- 
tion of their enterprise. 

We are told by Dr. Fothergill that " there had long been 



78 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

Professorsliips for Medicine in Edinburgh (connected with 
the College of Surgeons), and several attempts had been made 
to introduce a general course of Medical instruction;, but it 
was not until the year 1720 that this University distinguished 
itself Several gentlemen who had studied under Boerhaave 
with the view to revive the study of Medicine in their native 
country where it had formerly flourished, qualified themselves 
for the purpose of giving courses of public lectures on every 
branch of their profession. The celebrated Monro taught 
Anatomy after having studied it for several years under the 
ablest masters then in Europe. The Theory of Physic was 
assigned to the amiable, the humane Dr. Sinclair; Drs. Euther- 
ford and Innes chose the Practice; Chemistry was allotted to 
Dr. Plummer ; and the teaching of Materia Medica (of which 
last he was appointed King's Professor) devolved upon the 
learned and indefatigable Alston."^ With what success the 
labors of these enterprising men were crowned, the record of 
the uniform, unswerving advancement of the Medical School 
of Edinburgh, and its eminent position now, afford the evi- 
dence. Has not the institution which was founded by Mor- 
gan and Shippen, by Kuhn and Eush, and Bond, been found 
equally worthy of praise and admiration? 

Lectures upon anatomy were given in Edinburgh in 1694, 
by Mr. Monteith, and subsequently he delivered lectures on 
chemistry. Mr. Eobert Eliot was appointed, in 1705, the first 
Professor of Anatomy in the University. To him succeeded, in 
1714, Mr.Drummond, who had associated with him Mr. Magill, 
but in consequence of the difficulty of procuring subjects and 
of numerous drawbacks, which rendered their instruction irre- 
gular and u.nsatisfactory, they, in 1720, withdrew in favor of 
Mr. Alexander Monro, who is justly considered as the founder 
of the Anatomical School of Edinburgh. His first lecture was 
public, " The Lord Provost, accompanied by his friends in 
the Magistracy, the President and Fellows of the College of 
Physicians, and the President, accompanied by the Members 
of the College of Surgeons, honored him w^ith their presence."^ 

' Essay on the Character of the late Alexander Russel, M. D., F. R. S. 
Fotherglirs works, quarto ed., p. 430. 

2 The History of the University of Edinburgh, &c., by Alexander' 
Bower. Edinburgh, 1817, vol. ii. p. 166. An interesting sketch of the 



THE UXIVEESITY OF PEXXSYL.VANIA. 79 

"Towards the end of liis third course, Mr. Monro, encouraged 
by the success that had attended his exertions, and with the 
concurrence and urgent recommendations of his friends, which 
indeed in this instance were only an echo of the opinion of 
the public, presented a petition to the honorable patrons, in 
which he set forth the usefulness of the study of anatom}^, and 
the advantages it might be of to Edinburgh ; and in order 
thereto, the necessity of putting the commission of a professor 
on such a footing as might encourage him effectively to follow 
out the design for which he was appointed." 

The following extract from the response to this petition 
evinces the ready acquiescence on the part of the Council : 
"being fully convinced of the fitness and sufficiency of the 
said Mr. Alexander Monro, in all respects for the said profes- 
sion, and well acquainted with his diligence and assiduous 
application in the exercise of it, they therefore for his better 
encouragement, of anew, again nominate, &c., him sole Pro- 
fessor of Anatomy within this city and College of Edinburgh, 
and that, ad vitam aut culjjam, notwithstanding any act of 
Council formerly made to the contrary."^ 

The success of Mr. Monro's lectures encouraged the magis- 
trates to extend their liberal patronage in favor of public 
medical teaching, and induced them, in 172i, to appoint Dr. 
Potterfield the Professor of the Institutes of Medicine, and 
two years afterwards (1726) to elect Dr. Andrew Sinclair and 
John Rutherford Professors of the Practice of Medicine, and 
Andrew Plummer and John Jones Professors of Medicine 
and Chemistry. In subsequent arrangements, to these gentle- 
men Dr. Alston was added, who, although a teacher of Materia 
Medica and Botany at the Botanic Garden, was not appointed 

"Early History of tlie Medical Profession in Edinburgh," written by Dr. 
John Gairduer, has been published in the Edinburgh Medical Journal, 
vol. ix. Part II. 

• Bower's History, vol. di. pp. 181, 182. 

In the No. of the Dublin Medical Press and Circular for May 9tli, 1866, 
is an interesting lecture, by Prof. Struthers, of Edinburgh, before the 
Royal College of Surgeons, on the History of the Edinburgh Anatomical 
School. The details of this lecture, with reference to Mr. Monro, are in 
accordance with what has been given from the authorities cited. Mr. 
Monro was in his twenty-third year when he was elected Professor of 
Anatomy by the Town Council of Edinburgh. 



80 MEDICAL DEPAETMEI^T OF 

legally a professor until 1730. As Dr. Potterfield, as far as 
ascertained, did not lecture, the six other gentlemen who 
have been named may be regarded as, de facto, founders of 
the Medical Department of the University of Edinburgh. 

The only degree conferred by this University was that of 
Doctor of Medicine ; with reference to which we are informed 
that "the Medical Faculty being now constituted, degrees 
were conferred after a much more regular manner, and, with 
some slight variations, the forms adopted at Leyden, where the 
Professors themselves had heen educated^ were preferred." To 
exhibit the requirements of the school, the following rule 
may be cited : — 

" The Candidate must have attended the lectures given hj 
the Professors of Anatomy and Surgery, Chemistry, Botany, 
Materia Medica and Pharmacy, the Theory and Practice of 
Medicine, and Clinical Medicine in the Hospital."^ The re- 
quisite examinations followed. It appears to have required 
nearly twenty years to thus far perfect the course of instruction 
in the school that must be regarded as the parent of our own.^ 

It would seem that difficulties in prosecuting anatomical 
investigation and teaching beset the efforts of the profession 
in Scotland as well as in this country. The coincidence in 
this respect is worthy of notice, evincing the prejudices of 
the populace in connection with matters deeply involving its 
own welfare and interests, and the mode of eradicating them 
by judicious management. By the historian of the University 
of Edinburgh, the account of Mr. Monro's troubles is thus 
given: "Mr. Monro never desisted from exerting himself in 
the line of his profession, with that abilitj^, diligence, and 
steadiness which secured the approbation of all. In some 
respects, however, he had a difficult part to perform. The 
population of the town then amounted to only thirty thou- 
sand, and he had inspired his pupils with such a taste for 
anatomy and the opportunities they possessed were so lim- 
ited that they were uneasy under the restraint. In April, 
1725, however, some of the more enterprising of the students, 

' Bowers' History, vol. ii. p. 217. 

2 The first degree of M. D. was conferred by the University of Edin- 
burgh in 1705. See Catalogue of Graduates. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 81 

as was supposed, had attempted to violate the graves of the 
dead. Mr. Monro's well-known character placed him above 
suspicion in the eyes of sober-minded men, but the vulgar of 
all denominations were of a different opinion. The city was 
in an uproar, and an Edinburgh mob was in those days very 
formidable. The}^ beset Surgeon's Hall, where Mr. Monro had 
from the first delivered bis lectures, and had it not been for 
the spirited and vigorous measures of the magistrates, they 
would have destroyed and trampled under their feet the 
Anatomical preparations which he had accumulated with so 
much labor and expense. The tumult was fortunately quelled, 
but the magistrates found it necessary or convenient, in order 
to pacify the multitude, to offer a reward of £20 sterling to 
those who would discover the persons that were acQessory to 
stealing dead bodies. The Session of the College rose in the 
course of a few weeks ; no discovery was made, and the cir- 
cumstance which occasioned the riot was speedily forgotten." 
The preceding occurrence led to provision within the build- 
ings of the University for the accommodation of the Medical 
School, and the greater security of the Museum belonging to it. 

A similar unfortunate occurrence disturbed the quiet of 
Dr. Shippen's demonstrations in Philadelphia. On one occa- 
sion his house was mobbed, and only by exercising great tact, 
and by the judicious interference of his friends and of the 
authorities was he saved from the entire destruction of his 
accumulated materials for teaching. The event was known 
for years after to the inhabitants as the Sailors' Mob. In 
one of his early advertisements, Dr. Shippen exculpates 
himself from the imputation of procuring subjects in an 
illegal manner, by violating the sanctuary of the dead.' 

In the changeathat had taken place in the Faculty of the 
University of Edinburgh, at the period when the founders of 
the American School were educated within its walls, Cullen 
had come upon the theatre of action, and filled the highest 
place in their affections. As with the students of the Uni- 
versity of Leyden, Boerhaave had been the ruling spirit, and 
had stamped his genius upon their thoughts and opinions, 

' See Appendix E. 



82 MEDICAL DEPAKTMENT OF 

SO, by the pupils who listened to his instructions, CuUen was 
regarded as the paragon of scientific medical intellectuality. 
He had succeeded Dr. Plumrner in the Chair of Chemistry in 
1756, and Dr. Whytt in that of Institutes in 1766, which 
position he was holding at the time the American students, 
who were the founders of our School, were in attendance 
upon his lectures. 

The warmth of commendation on the part of Dr. Rush 
may be taken as an explicit illustration of the popularity 
of Dr. Cullen with his pupils. " Dr. Cullen (says he, in 
writing to Dr. Morgan) continues still to be the idol of 
his pupils ; he has lately proposed a Theory concerning the 
offices of the Brain and Neryes that will do him more honour, 
however,»than anything he has eyer yet found out. I have 
not room to do it justice in this place; hereafter you shall be 
welcome to it. His Clinical lectures and his practice in the 
Infirmary cannot be too highly praised ; in each of them he 
shows the most extensive reading and the most consummate 
skill. He intends to publish a ^ Nosologica Methoclicd' next 
summer, which will contain a complete arrangement of all 
diseases under proper classes, orders, genera, and species, 
somewhat in the manner of Sauvages, tho' considerably 
different from his in the matter of arrangement." 

When Cullen first began to lecture in the Infirmary of 
Edinburgh upon practical medicine, he deviated from the 
routine of following Boerhaave implicitly. To this, exception 
was strongly taken. He tells the story of the difficulties he 
experienced in thus deviating from so renowned a master, in 
his Introductory to the Session of 1783-4: "About twenty 
years after I had left this University as a student, I was again 
called to it to take a Professor^s Chair, when I still found the 
system of Boerhaave prevailing as much as ever, and even 
without any notice taken of what Boerhaave himself and his 
commentator, Yan Swieten, had in the meantime added. Soon 
after I came here I was engaged to give Clinical, that is to 
say, practical lectures, and in these I ventured to give my own 
opinion of the nature and cure of diseases different in several 
respects from that of the Boerhaavians. This soon produced 
an outcry against me. In a public College, as I happened to 



THE UXIVEESITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 83 

be Professor of Chemistry, I was called a Paracelsus, a Yau 
Plelmont, a whimsical innovator, and great pains were taken 
in private to disparage myself and my doctrines."^ Cullen 
lived to know that his teachings had as wide a circulation 
and as much authority as those of Boerhaave, which ulti- 
mately gave place to them. 

It was determined, as we are informed by Dr. Thomson 
in his Life of Cullen, that he should deliver a course of Lec- 
tures on the Practice of Medicine during the summer of 1768. 
He accordingly delivered his first course on that branch at 
the time specified, and continued to alternate with Dr. Gre- 
gory until the death of that professor in 1773, when he suc- 
ceeded to the Chair: With respect to the above-mentioned 
arrangement, it appears that an application was made by Dr. 
Cullen, with the concurrence of Dr. Cregory, for a joint 
appointment to the Chair of Practice.^ The movement ap- 
pears to have been instigated by the students of the Univer- 
sity, who were impressed by Dr. Cullen's teaching at the 
Infirmary, although Mr. Bower states that "the origin of the 
whole transaction is involved in obscurity." "The students 
were divided in their opinions respecting the abilities of 
these eminent men as public lecturers, and as usual entered 
ver}^ keenl}^ into the medical theories they severally taught."^ 
This is clear from the correspondence of Dr. Push, then in 
Edinburgh, which, although commendatory of Gregory, is 
enthusiastic with respect to Cullen. In a letter, July 27th, 
1768, to Dr. Morgan, he says: "Dr. Cullen, the great unri- 
valed Dr. Cullen, is going on unfolding each day some new 
secret to us in the Animal economy; his lectures on the Prac- 
tice of Physic this summer are richly worth my staying for." 

"When we take into consideration the enthusiasm mani- 
fested by Dr. Push with respect to the prelections of Cullen, 

• An Account of the Life, Lectures, and Writings of William Cullen, 
M. D., Professor of the Practice of Physic in the University of Edinburgh, 
by John Thomson, M. D., F. R. S., L. and E., Professor of Medicine and 
General Pathology in the Universitj' of Edinburgh, vol. i. p. 161. 

2 Bower's History of the University of Edinburgh, vol. ii. p. 385 ; vol. 
iii. p. 108. 

^ Bower, loc. cit. 



S-1 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

liow worthy of attention is the similarity of their public 
career. They both occupied successively the same chairs in 
the respective institutions of which they were conspicuous 
ornaments and supporters. Cullen commenced his course of 
teaching in the Professorship of Chemistry, was transferred to 
that of Institutes, and, finally, to the one of Practice; while 
Push, in the term of his long life, occupied successively the 
chairs pertaining to each of these branches of medical science. 

When Cullen became a teacher of medicine, he made an 
innovation which at the time was considered rash. It was 
the abandonment of the Latin language and the use of ver- 
nacular English. The Latin was considered the language of 
science, and as such was used upon the Continent, as well as in 
England and Scotland. Lie was accused of not being sufficiently 
familiar with it to use it readily, but from this charge he is 
vindicated by the fact of having received his education in that 
tongue, and moreover of having delivered a course of botany 
in it. When, about the year 1746, he adopted the new plan 
of delivering his lectures, he conferred a service which was 
afterwards acknowledged by its imitation. From this period 
the use of the Latin language was gradually dropped.^ 

The Lectures on the Materia Medica by Dr. Cullen, w^ere 
first republished in Philadelphia, by Pobert Bell, in 1775. 
To exhibit the estimation in which that distinguished teacher 
was held everywhere, the following advertisernent is singu- 
larly pertinent. " The American Physicians who wish to 
arrive at the top of their profession are informed that the 
great Professor Cullen 's Lectures on the Materia Medica, 
containing the very cream of Physic, are now selling by the 
said Bell, on Third Street. Price Five dollars." The expec- 
tation of a ready sale may be surmised from this extract.'"^ 

Callen's " First Lines of the Practice of Physic" was subse- 
quently published in this country, in 1781. With reference 

' See Thomson's Life of Cullen, vol. i. p. 28. 

^ The work first published was a surreptitious edition of the Lectures on 
Materia Medica by Dr. Cullen, delivered in 1761. It was issued from the 
Edinburgh Press in 1771, when an injunction to prohibit its sale was ob- 
tained from the Court of Chancery. It was republished in London in 1773. 
Dr. Cullen published his " Treatise of Materia Medica" in 1789. 



THE UNIVEKSITY OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 85 

to this work, an interestins; extract of a letter from Dr. Rush 
to Dr. Cullen may be given. " One of the severest taxes paid 
by our profession during the war was occasioned by the want 
of a regular supply of books from Europe, by which means 
we are eight years behind you in everything. Yonr First 
Lines was almost the only new work that was smuggled into 
the country. Fortunately it fell into my hands. I took the 
liberty of writing a Preface to it, and published it during the 
war. The American Edition had a rapid sale and a general 
circulation through the United States. It was read with pecu- 
liar attention by the physicians and surgeons of our arm}^, and 
in a few years regulated in many things the practice in our 
hospitals. Thus, Sir, you see you have had a hand in the 
Ee volution, by contributing indirectly to save the lives of the 
officers and soldiers of the American Army." 16th Sept., 1783. 
At the time mentioned, the first volume only of the work was 
republished; it had been issued in Edinburgh in 1777. 
Cullen had able coadjutors in the University of Edinburgh. 
Monro (secundus) had great distinction as an anatomist and 
surgeon ; the name of Gregory was regarded with respect ; 
Home, Hope, and Young were filling their parts with credit 
to. themselves and usefulness to the institution ; while Black 
had inscribed his name upon the roll of fame, by his doctrine 
of latent heat and his discovery of carbonic acid. Of such lumi- 
naries was formed that cynosure in the northern firmament of 
medical science, Avhich attracted the attention of the intellec- 
tual world, and directed the steps of those who sought for 
lights to guide them in preparation for professional duties.^ 

1 An Eulogiiiin upon Dr. Cullen was read before the College of Physi- 
cians of Philadelphia, by Dr. Rush, July 9, 1790. 

2 In 1768 the Faculty of the Medical Department of the University of 
Edinburgh was thus constituted : — 

Alexander Monro, M. D., Professor of Anatomy and Surgery. 
William Cullen, M. D,, " Institutes of Medicine. 

John Gregory, ]\[. D., " Practice of Medicine. 

Joseph Black, M. D., " Chemistry. 

Thomas Young, M. D., " ^lidwifery. 

' Francis Home, ^[. D., " Materia Medica. 

John Hope, M. D.. " Botany. 

John Rae, M. D., Lecturer on Surgery in the Infirmary. 



S6 MEDICAL DEPAKTMEXT OF 



CHAPTEE YII. 

Effect of the American Revolution upon the College of Philadelphia — Abro- 
gation of its charter and the establishment of the University of the State 
of Pennsylvania — Restoration of the charter and privileges to the college 
— Union of the two institutions under the name of University of Penn- 
sylvania. 

The fortunes of our medical school, for twenty years after 
the organization of the faculty in 1769, were checkered 
and unequal. An intermission of Dr. Morgan's lectures 
took place in the winter of 1772-73, in consequence of his 
absence in the West Indies, whither he had been sent by 
the Board of Trustees to collect funds for the College. At 
this time the medical class had increased to between thirty 
and forty students. But soon the disordered condition of 
society, attendant upon the Ee volution, disturbed the quiet 
flow of scientific pursuits, and led to the suspension or to the 
serious embarrassment of academic establishments on the 
American Continent. In illustration it may be stated that 
the Professors of the College of Philadelphia applied to the 
" Council of Safety" for relief from their annoyances, inform- 
ing it " that the Schools were interfered with and inconveni- 
enced by the occupation of the grounds and buildings by 
soldiers, who did much injury to the property."^ 

In the years 1776 and 1777, the lectures upon anatomy 
were wholly suspended in the College, and afterwards neces- 
sarily shorter than usual, and, as far as can be ascertained, the 
lectures on the other branches were either interrupted or but 
partially given.^ The occupation of the city by the British 
in the autumn of 1777 was the occasion of the removal of the 
effects of the College, which, as far as possible, were secured 
privately by the professors.^- 

' June 23, 1777, Pa. Archives, vol. v. p. 198. 

2 Eulogium on Dr. Shippen by Dr. Caspar Wistar, p. 29. 

3 It is a tradition in the family of the Provost, the Rev. Dr. Smith, that 



THE UXIYEBSITY OF PENG'S YLVANI A. 87 

Several of the medical profe?;sors took their place as medical 
officers of the arinj^ Morgan and Shippen successively acted 
in the capacity of Medical Director-Greneral during the Eevo- 
lution, and Knsh as Medical Director of the Middle Department. 
The latter was also a member of the Congress which signed 
the Declaration of Independence.' The account of the services 
rendered by the Medical Professors as well as by the members 
of the Profession generally, may be gathered from the biogra- 
phies which have been given us of the most eminent physicians 
and surgeons of the period. Two of the graduates, of the Class 
of 1768 and 1771, of the College were useful and distinguished 
phj^sicians of the Hospital Department of the American Army, 
viz., Jonathan Potts and James Tilton. An estimate may be 
formed of the difficulties encountered by the army physicians 
and surgeons from the transcript of part of a letter written by 
the former of these gentlemen, Dr. Potts, who was Director 
for the N'orthern Department. 

" Fort George, August lOtli, 1776. 
" The distressing situation of the sick here is not to be 
described ; without clothing, without bedding, or a shelter 
sufficient to screen them from the weather, I am sure your 
known humanity will be affected when I tell you we have at 
present upwards of one thousand sick, crowded into sheds, 
and laboring under the various and cruel disorders of Dysen- 
tery, Bilious, Putrid Fevers, and the effects of a Confluent 
Small Pox. To attend this large number we have four sur- 
geons and four mates, exclusive of myself, and our little shop 
doth not afford a grain of Jalap, Ipecacuanha, Bark, Salts, 
Opium, and sundry other capital articles, and nothing of the 
kind to be had in this quarter. In this dilemma our inven- 
tions are exhausted for succedaneums ; but we shall go on 
doing the best we can in hopes of speedy supply." 
This letter was addressed to the Director-General.^ 
The spirit which actuated these gentlemen in the cause of 

he thus saved the archives from which we have been enabled to compile 
much of our information. 

' Dr. Rush was elected to Congress after the Declaration of Independ- 
ence, for the express purpose of signing it. 

2 It is among the papers of Dr. Potts, in the collection of the Historica 
Society of Pennsylvania. 



88 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

their country may be learned from the following passage of a 
letter of Dr. Thomas Bond, Sen., to the Council of Safety, 
December 4th, 1776, giving his views in relation to the or- 
ganization of military hospitals : — 

" When I see so many of my friends and valuable fellow- 
citizens exposing themselves to the horrors of war, I think 
it my indispensable duty to make them a tender of the best 
services in my power, upon the condition that I can have the 
joint assistance of my son in the great undertaking, who I 
am certain you will find on enquiry has already distinguished 
himself in this Department. As I am told many of the sick 
are near the City, the sooner this matter is concluded the 
better."! 

Dr. Bond at that time was over sixty years of age. 

The privations and hardships wliich were suffered, the 
difficulties and vexations which were encountered, and the 
sacrifices submitted to by the medical officers during the War 
of Independence have been graphically depicted in his Mili- 
tary Journal by that venerable sharer of them, the late Dr. 
Thatcher. When, on the conclusion of the contest, the 
services of these medical patriots were no further needed, 
they returned to their civil posts, imbued with knowledge 
and experience, from which in after life they derived the 
benefit. 

So far as the concerns of the College were affected, it re- 
quired time before they assumed their former tranquillity and 
regularity. The account of the next ten years is an eventful 
one in the history of the Medical School, until the University 
was placed on its present secure foundation. 

The Institution, being of colonial origin and patronage, 
needed, as was thought, thorough reorganization to place it 
upon a basis harmonizing with the regime of Independence. 
The removal of constraint by a hostile force permitted it to be 
re-established under different auspices. It was alleged further 
that disaffection existed on the part of some^of the members 
of the Board of Trustees to the new Government. By an 
Act of the Legislature, November 27th, 1779, the charter 

' Pa. Archives, vol. v. p. 89. Dr. Thomas Bond, Jr., here referred to, 
was Purveyor of the General Hospital. 



THE UXIYERSITY OF PEXX3YLVANIA. 89 

of the College was abrogated, its officers removed, and its pro- 
perty transferred to a new institution. Tins decree of the Legis- 
lature had been anticipated by authoritative interposition.^ 

From the Minutes of June 1st, 1779, we learn that Mr. 
John Foulke was examined for the Bachelor's Degree, but 
after the mandamus was issued, the Commencement was inter- 
dicted by the President of the Executive Council of the State. 
This was the beginning of the difficulty which eventuated in 
the action of the Legislature above referred to. Still, the move- 
ment must have been more sudden than was expected, inas- 
much as we find the following notice in the " Pennsylvania 
Gazette" :— 

" College of Philadelphia, October 24, 1779. . The Lectures 
on the different branches of Medicine will begin on the first 
Monday of December." 

The institution which superseded the College of Philadel- 
phia was entitled the "Uxiversity of the State of Penn- 
SYLYAXIA," to which were given more extended educational 
privileges and larger endowment.^ The Trustees at once 
directed attention to the Medical Department in common with 
others, and it appears from the Minutes of the Board that on 
December 8th, 1779, it was — ■ 

"Resolved, that Dr. Shippen, sen.. Dr. Bond, and Dr. Hutch- 
inson be a Committee to inquire into the state of the late 
Medical School, as it stood in the late College, and what is the 
establishment thereof in Foreign Universities ; and to digest 
a plan, for the consideration of the Board, for establishing the 
school on the most respectable footing. That the said Com- 

• For an exposition of the circumstances which led to this act on the part 
of the Legislature, and for the full discussion of the merits of the transac- 
tion, we must refer to the History of the University of Pennsylvania by 
George. B. Wood, M. D., in the 3d vol. of Memoirs of the Historical So- 
ciety of Pa. Also to the Pa. Gazette, March and April, 1788, for a Remon- 
strance against the Act of Assembly of 1779 and an exposition of the origin 
of the College. In the same paper are "Reasons for abrogating the Charter 
of the College from Minutes of the Council of Censors," August and Sep- 
tember, 1784. Also an Exposition of the Controversy between the College 
and the University, March, 1789. 

2 We have seen a diploma of Bachelor of Medicine of 178-"), in which the 
title University of Philadelphia is used. The title stated in the text is 
given in the Book of Charters and Statutes. 



90 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

mittee do request tlie several Medical Professors in the mean 
time to proceed in their lectures as heretofore." 

When the University was organized upon the basis men- 
tioned, the Eev. John Ewing, D.D., was appointed Provost. 
In this office he remained until his death in 1802. Dr. Ewing 
continued the practice of delivering Lectures upon Natural 
Philosophy. These were published, in 1809, in a volume 
edited by Prof. Eobert Patterson, who appended to them a 
Life of the author. 

On May 11th, 1780, it was resolved, by the Board of Trus- 
tees of the University, "that the former Medical Professors be 
requested to examine such candidates as shall apply to them ;" 
and on Jane 27th it was "agreed that on the present occasion 
the late Medical Professors take their seats." This occasion 
was in connection with the preliminaries for the graduation of 
the classes. The Commencement was held, and the Degree 
of Bachelor of Medicine conferred on William W. Smith and 
Ebenezer Crossby, and that of Doctor of Medicine on David 
Eamsay.^ 

Dr. Shippen was the only one of the Professors who at 
once accepted the position he had held in the Faculty of the 
College ; and an agreement not being effected with the others, 
the Chair of Practice was offered to Dr. Hutchinson, June 
25th, 1781, and then, April 22d, 1782, to Dr. James McClurg, 
of Virginia. The Chair of Chemistry was, Nov. 7th, 1781, 
offered to Dr. Hutchinson, and on April 2d, 1782, the Chair 
of Materia Medica was offered to Dr. James Tilton, of Dela- 
ware. In each case the honor was respectfully declined. 
On April 22d, 1782, Mr. William Bartram was appointed 
Professor of Botany. 

The Trustees evidently labored under embarrassment and 
difficulties which had to be met by temporary expedients, as 
is shown by the following public advertisement: — 

"At a Meeting of the Trustees of the University of Penn- 
sylvania, on Wednesday, 31st of October, 1781, Resolved 

1 The Historian of the United States. He wrote a Life of Dr. Eush, 
which has heen quoted. The words in wliich the mandamus is expressed 
are the following : "And the Degree of Doctor of Medicine on David 
Ramsay, now prisoner with the enemy." 



THE UXIVEESITY OF FEXXSYLYAXIA. 91 

unanimously that Dr. Bond be requested to unite Lectures 
on the Theory' and Practice of Pliysic with his course of 
Clinical Lectures, the ensuing season, until such time as a 
Professor in that Branch of Medicine be appointed and un^ 
dertake the business." Dr. Bond, who was present at the 
meeting, expressed his readiness to do so. 

It was further " Eesolved, that Wednesday next be ap- 
pointed for the election of Professors of Materia Medica, the 
Theory and Practice of Physic, Chemistry, and Botany." 
This attempt to fill the Chairs did not succeed, and in this 
state of irregularity medical instruction continued for three 
years. In the " Pennsylvania Gazette" of Nov. 14th, 1781, Dr. 
Rush announced a course of Lectures upon Chemistry and the 
Practice of Physic, " to begin on Monday next, at three o'clock 
in the afternoon." There was no interruption, however, to the 
graduation of candidates each 3^ear. At the Commencement of 
1782, eight students were graduated M.B., and the Honorary 
Degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred upon Joannes 
Franciscus De Coste, Physician-General of the French Army 
in America, and also upon Maria Bernardus Borgetta, an 
eminent physician of the same army ; and Fiacer Robillard, a 
Senior Surgeon in the French Army, received the Degree of 
Master-^of Arts. 

In November, 1783, an election anew took place, and the 
former status of the Professors was accepted by them. The . 
lectures then appear to have been conducted with some 
uniformity. 

Although the University continued to perform its part 
successfully for ten years from the time of its foundation, 
the dissatisfaction on the part of the friends of the former 
College had only slumbered. The Act of the Legislature 
was regarded by them as unjust and unconstitutional, and 
their efforts in procuring its repeal, and in the restoration 
to the College of the powers and property possessed by it 
originally, were finally crowned with success. The new in- 
stitution retained its position as a University, with its endow- 
ment from confiscated estates. The Act of repeal is dated 
March 6th, 1789.^ 

> Charters and Statutes of the University of Pennsylvania. 



92 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

It is a circumstance worthy of record that, in consequence 
of bis absence abroad for so many years in the service of the 
Colonies, Dr. Franklin, after the foundation of the College, 
" had but few opportunities of taking any further active part 
in the affairs of the Seminary, until his final return in the 
year 1785, when he found its charters violated, and his ancient 
colleagues, the original founders, deprived of their trust by 
an act of the Legislature; and although his own name had 
been inserted amongst the new Trustees, yet he declined to 
take his seat among them, or any concern in the management 
of their affairs, till the institution was restored by law to its 
original owners. He then assembled his old colleagues at his 
own house, and, being chosen their President, all their future 
meetings were at his request held there till within a few 
months of his death, April 17th, 1790, when, with reluctance, 
and at their desire, lest he might be too much injured by his 
attention to their business, he suffered them to meet at the 
College."^ 

When the restitution of its rights was made to the College, 
the Trustees proceeded to the organization of the Schools. 
The Eev. Dr. Smith was restored to the of&ce of Provost; 
and with respect to the Medical Professors, the Minutes of the 
Board inform us, dated March 13th, 1789, that 

" The Committee who were appointed to wait upon the Pro 
fessors and Masters formerly deprived, but now restored, made 
report that they had waited upon the following Professors in 
the Medical Schools, formerly instituted under the College, 
viz: — 

Dr. William Shippen, Jr., Professor of Anatomy, &c. 
'' Adam Kuhn, Professor of Botany and Materia Medica. 
" Benjamin Rush, Professor of Chemistry. 

" Who severally expressed their satisfaction upon the re- 
newal of their connection with the Trustees of the College, 
and their restoration to their Professorships under them, in 
discharging the duties of which as heretofore it was their wish 
and intention to continue. 

' Life of Dr. Franklin by Dr. Stuber, Dno. ecL, N. Y. 1825. See also 
remonstrance referred to, "Pennsylvania Gazette.". 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 93 

"Dr. John Morgan, Professor of the Theory and Practice 
of Physic, not being at present within the State, the Trustees 
consider him reinstated and entitled to continue in his office 
until his return home, when he is to be waited on by the Com- 
mittee in like manner as the other Professors have been, in 
order to know whether it is his intention to resume the exer- 
cise of his Professorship as heretofore." 

In October, 1789, Dr. Morgan died at the age of fifty-four 
years. It is stated that he had retired very much from active 
life, actuated by chagrin at his treatment by Congress, in re- 
moving him from the post of Director General, upon charges 
from which he was ultimately exonerated. That Dr. Morgan 
had lost his interest in the duties of his Professorship, would 
appear from a communication from the Professors to the 
Trustees of the University in December, 1788, in these terms : 
" that the Faculty are of opinion that the Medical School 
sufters for want of a course of lectures being delivered annu- 
ally on the Theory and Practice of Physic." 

On the 21th of October, 1789, Dr. Push Avas elected to the 
Chair of Theory and Practice in the College ; and on the 29th 
of October, Dr. Kuhn resigned his Professorship and took 
that of Practice in the University, to Avhich he was elected 
November 1th, 1789. "At the same time a letter was read 
from Dr. Wistar recommending lectures on the Institutes of 
Physic, to be in connection with those of Chemistry by the 
Professor of the latter branch, which was agreed to." 

On Xovember 17th, 1789, Dr. Caspar Wistar was unani- 
mously elected Professor of Chemistry (to succeed Dr. Rush) 
and of the Institutes of Physic. Dr. Samuel Griffitts was 
unanimously elected Professor of Materia Medica and Phar- 
macy ; and Dr. Benjamin Smith Barton was unanimously 
elected Professor of Natural History and Botany. 

The Medical School of the College having been thus reor- 
ganized, and that of the University continuing in full opera- 
tion, a rivalship naturally sprung up between the two insti- 
tutions, or rather it may be called an antagonism, which was 
singular from the fact of an inosculation existing in the per- 
son of Dr. Shippen, who held his Professorship in both. 

It has been seen that Dr. Kuhn had joined the University, 



94: MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

as Professor of the Theory and Practice, and on the 19th of 
December, 1789, Dr. James Hutchinson, an active member of 
the Board of Trustees, was elected Professor of Chemistry 
and Materia Medica in that institution. 

When, in 1789, the College was restored to its former posi- 
tion, with possession of its functions and privileges, it was 
determined no longer to confer the degree of Bachelor of 
Medicine. The reason for this course is thus stated : " It 
having been considered that it would not be for the honor of 
the College or the advancement of sound literature to con- 
tinue the degree of Bachelor of Medicine, lest young and in- 
experienced men under the sanction of that degree and of 
their Collegiate education, assuming the name of Doctor, 
might be tempted to impose upon the public, by a too early 
Practice, it has, therefore, been determined that the Degree 
of Doctor in Medicine shall be the only medical degree con- 
ferred in this Seminary."^ 

In point of fact it would appear from the early records 
that, as was anticipated, comparatively fev/ of the primary 
graduates ever applied for the doctor's degree, and even these 
bore no proportion to the whole class of students in attend- 
ance, most of them going into active service' without the 
evidence of qualification. "With regard to the system of 
degrees established, Dr. Push, in his correspondence with Dr. 
Morgan, as early as 1768, makes this comment: "I have read 
the laws you have established with regard to the conferring 
degrees in Ph3^sic, and have shown them to several gentle- 
men in this place (Edinburgh) who, upon the whole, approve 
of them. Some of them have thought that conferring Bache- 
lors' Degrees in Physic would tend to depreciate their value, 
as few young men would ever have leisure enough after they 
began to practise, to return a second time to the College in 
order to write a Thesis or go through the other necessary 
forms, previous to being admitted Doctors of Physic. Upon 
this account they have proposed that no one should be ad- 
mitted to the phj^sical honors, until he had studied there two 
or three years, and afterwards published a Thesis. But you 
who are upon the spot can best judge of the propriety of the 

' Pennsylyania Gazette. - • 



THE UNIVEESITY OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 95 

regulation." The correctness of the prognostication con- 
tained in the foregoing extract was shown by the result, and 
led to the abandonment of the first degree. 

On November 17th, 1789, the following rules respecting 
a medical education having been passed by the Trustees of 
the College, and ordered to be made public for the informa- 
tion of those students who desired the degree of Doctor of 
•Physic, were published in the "Pennsylvania Gazette": — 

"1. 1^0 person shall be received as a Candidate for the 
degree of Doctor of Medicine until he has arrived at the age 
of twenty-one years, and has applied himself to the study 
of Medicine in the College for at least two years. Those 
students, candidates who reside in the City of Philadelphia, 
or within five miles thereof, must have been the pupils of 
some respectable practitioner for the space of three years, and 
those who may come from the country, and from any greater 
distance than five miles, must have studied with some repu- 
table physician there for at least two years. 

"2. Every candidate shall have regularly attended the 
lectures of the following Professors, viz., of Anatomy and 
Surgery; of Chymistry and the Institutes of Medicine; of 
Materia Medica and Pharmacy; of the Theory and Practice of 
Medicine; the Botanical lectures of the Professor of Natural 
History and Botany ; and a course of lectures on Natural and 
Experimental Philosophy. 

"3. Each Candidate shall signify his intention of gradu- 
ating to the Dean of the Medical Faculty, at least two months 
before the time of graduation, after which he shall be exam- 
ined privately by the Professors of the different branches of 
medicine. If remitted to his studies, the Professors shall 
hold themselves bound not to divulge the same; but if he is 
judged to be properly qualified, a medical question and a case 
shall then be proposed to him, the answer and treatment of 
which he shall submit to the Medical Professors. If these 
performances are approved, the Candidate shall then be ad- 
mitted to a public examination before the Trustees, the Pro- 
vost, Vice Provost, Professors and Students of the College ; 
after w>iich he shall offer to the inspection of each of the 
Medical Professors a Thesis, written in the Latin. or English 



90 MEDICAL DEPAETMEXT OF 

Language (at his own option) on a medical subject. This 
Thesis, approved of, is to be printed at the expense of the 
Candidate, and defended from such objections as may be made 
to it by the Medical Professors, at a Commencement to be 
held for the purpose of conferring degrees, on the first Wed- 
nesday of June every year-. 

"Bachelors in Medicine who wish to be admitted to the 
Degree of Doctor in Medicine, shall publish and defend a- 
Thesis agreeably to the rules above mentioned. 

" The different Medical Lectures shall commence annually 
on the first Monday in November, the lectures in Natural and 
Experimental Philosophy about the same time, and the lec- 
tures on Botany on the first Monday in April. 

"BENJAMIN FEANKLIN,' 

President of the Board of Trustees. 

WILLIAM SMITH, 

Provost of the College and Secretary of Board of Trustees." 

The University continued the practice of conferring two 
degrees ; in other respects its rules and requirements were 
very analogous to those of the College. 

The state of things exhibited with respect to medical teach- 
ing by two institutions, in so contracted a sphere as the city 
of Philadelphia then offered, could not be otherwise than 
unsatisfactory. This appears clearly from a statement made 
upon the Minutes of the University, April 6, 1791, being part 
of a report on the condition of the Schools, to wit : " Of the 
Medical students who have attended the lectures of the 
different Professors, since the separation of the College, it 
cannot be accurately ascertained how many are attached to 
this Seminary, with a view to graduation in it. 

" The Professor of Anatomy, who is also Professor of 
Anatomy under the College, has been attended in his last 
course of lectures, which commenced in November, 1790, by 
one liundre.d and four. About twenty of these have not at- 
tended the lectures of any other of the Professors of either 
Seminary. Fifty -five^ however, have attended the lectures of 
the other Medical Professors of the University with a view 
to graduation in it." 



THE UXIYEESITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 97 

The field for two establishments was proved to be too re- 
stricted, and after party spirit bad subsided, and faction had 
been lulled to rest, a calm appreciation of the circumstances 
then existing led to the conclnsion, that in union there would 
be additional strength and prosperity. In speaking of the 
condition of affairs that existed, the late Chief Justice Tilgh- 
man refers to the part that was taken by Dr. Wistar in 
bringing about the union of conflicting interests. " Philadel- 
phia had then the misfortune to be divided between two rival 
schools, the Faculty of Medicine of the College and that of 
the University of Pennsylvania. He saw and lamented the 
consequences of this division. It was his wish to unite in 
one great institution the talents of the city. But finding that 
the period of union had not yet arrived, he accepted the Pro- 
fessorship offered to him by the College, in order to preserve 
an influence to be exerted at the proper season, and in this 
purpose he was not disappointed, for he had the satisfaction 
of contributing largely to the much desired union which was 
afterwards effected."^ 

An amicable adjustment was brought about, followed by 
an Act of the Legislature, September 30th, 1791, passed in 
accordance with petitions from the two schools, setting forth 
the terms of the agreement upon which they had decided 
to unite. It was agreed that the name of the Institution should 
be " The Univeksity of Pennsylvania," and that it should 
be located in the city of Philadelphia. Of this name her 
graduates have sufficient reason to be proud. 

In the Introductory Lecture delivered by Dr. Push in the 
month of Kovember, 1791, he thus expresses himself upon 
the subject of the union: "I should do violence to my feel- 
ings should I proceed to the subjects of the ensuing course 
of lectures, without first congratulating you upon the union 
of the two Medical Schools of Philadelphia, under a Charter 
founded upon the most liberal concessions by the gentlemen 
who projected it, and upon the purest principles of patriotism 

' An Eulogium in commemoration of Dr. Caspar Wistar, late President 
of the American Pliilosophical Society, (fee, delivered before the Society, 
March 11th, 1818, by the Hon. William Tilghman, Chief Justice of the 
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, <fec., Philadelphia, 1818, p. 20. 

7 



98 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

in the Legislature of our State. By means of tliis event, the 
ancient harmony of the diiferent'professors of mediciDe will 
be restored, and their united efforts will be devoted, with 
accumulated force, towards the advancement of our Science." 

By the arrangement entered into, provision was made for 
the employment of all tKe Professors of the two previously 
existing Faculties, according to the especial predilections 
and fitness of each incumbent, although no doubt in the spirit 
of compromise some sacrifices of t'astes and wishes were made 
highly honorable to the parties interested. 

With this new era the Announcement of the Professors 
and their subjects was as follows : — 

Anatomy, Surgery, and ) William Shippen, M. D. 

Midwifery, j Caspar Wistar, M.D., Adjunct. 

Theory and Practice of Medicine, Adam Kuhn, M.D. 
Institntes of Medicine and ) ^^^^^^^^ j^ ^^ 

Chnical Medicine, ) 

Chemistry, James Hutchinson, M. D. 

Materia Medica and Pharmacy, Samuel P. Griffitts, M.D. 
Botany and Natural History, Benj. Smith Barton, M.D. 

The elections according to the order given were made on 
the 23d of January, 1792. Dr. John Ewing was elected on 
April 3d, 1792, Professor of Natural and Experimental Phi- 
losophy, and on the 26th was again chosen Provost. 

At the time the Medical Professors were elected, it was 
" Resolved, that it shall not be essential to the obtaining a 
Degree in Medicine for the student to attend the Professor of 
Natural History and Botany." With this exception the 
"Rules respecting a medical education and the conferring of 
Degrees in Medicine" were similar to those which have been 
given as adopted by the College. The Degree of Bachelor of 
Medicine was dropped by the University when thus reor- 
ganized, and the Doctorate alone conferred. In this particu- 
lar the practice of the University of Edinburgh was followed. 



THE UXIYERSITY OF PEXXSYLYAXIA. 



CHAPTEE YIII. 

Death of Dr. Hntchinson— Sketch of his life— Election of Dr. Woodhonse 
to the professorship of chemistry — Resignation of Dr. Griffitts — Sketch 
of his life — Election of Dr. Barton to tJie chair of materia medica — Resig- 
nation of Dr. Kuhn and election of Dr. Rush to the chair of practice — 
Creation of the chair of surgery and election of Dr. Physick Professor — 
First recognition of the ad eundem footing — Petition to the legislature 
with respect to irregular practitioners — Death of Dr. Shippen and elec- 
tion of Dr. Wistar — Death of Dr. Woodhouse and sketch of his life — 
Election of Dr. Coxe to the chair of chemistry — Opinion of the facult}^ 
Avith respect to chemistry. 

XoT long after the coalition of the medical schools and the 
arrangement of the Faculties under the auspices of the Uni- 
versity, a change occurred in the chair of chemistry. Its in- 
cumbent, Dr. Hutchinson, died in the autumn of 1793, of the 
epidemic yellow fever. 

Dr. James Hutchinson was born in 1752, in Bucks County, 
Pa. He was educated at the College of Philadelphia, and 
graduated with the first honors of his class. He commenced 
the study of medicine w^ith Dr. Cadwalader Evans, and 
attended the medical lectures of the college.^ In the year 
177-1, at the time he graduated Bachelor of Medicine, the 
trustees presented him with a gold medal for his superior 
knowledge in chemistry. On one side of this medal was repre- 
sented a circle of laurel, with the inscription on the exergue, 
" Jacobus Hutchinson 1771." On the reverse a retort ; on the 
exergue, "jSTaturse artisque arcana retexi. Col. Phil." 

Dr. Hutchinson subsequently went to London and con- 
tinued his medical education under the protection and guid- 
ance of Dr. Fothergill. It is stated by his biographer that 
" while pursuing his studies in Europe the disputes between 

» The tickets of admission to the lectures of the professors are in posses- 
sion of his grandson, Dr. James Hutchinson. They are written on the 
back of " Playing Cards." 



100 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

England and the American Colonies were approaching a crisis, 
which he saw must end in an open rupture. The prospect of 
this event hastened his return to his native country, the cause 
of Avhich he warmly espoused. He returned home by way of 
France, and was entrusted with important despatches from Dr. 
Franklin, the American Minister there, to the Congress of the 
United States. When near the American coast, the ship in 
which he was a passenger was chased by a British armed ves- 
sel, and being anxious to save the despatches, he left the vessel 
in an open boat under a heavy fire from the enemy and landed 
safely. A short time after he left the vessel, she was captured 
by the enemy in sight, and he lost everything he had, includ- 
ing a fine medical library collected in England and France." 
Dr. Hutchinson served in the army during the Eevolution, and 
was especially interested in public affairs. In a vindication 
of himself ^om the charge of receiving pay to which he was 
not entitled, published in the " Pennsylvania Journal," Feb. 
6, 1782, Dr. Hutchinson gave an account of the services ren- 
dered by him during the war. In this he states that he was in 
the employment of the United States for upwards of one year, 
and of the State of Pennsylvania from the latter part of 1778 
till the beginning of February 1781. A¥hile in the Continental 
service, he had a commission as the Senior Surgeon to the 
Flying Hospital in the Middle Department, and with only six 
assistants inoculated 3496 men, while the army lay at Yalley 
Forge. When the army moved across the North Eiver, after 
the battle of Monmouth, having no duty to perform in his own 
department, and desirous of being useful to his country, he 
went to Rhode Island as a volunteer in the expedition against 
that place under General Sullivan. Soon afterwards he resign- 
ed his commission. On his return to Philadelphia he was 
appointed Surgeon to the State Navy. The emoluments de- 
rived for medical services may be learned from the following 
statement : " The pay annexed to this station (state navy) was 
three continental dollars and five rations per day. The duty 
consisted in taking care of the ofiicers and men belonging to 
the gallies, and of the Militia v\^ho were occasionally at Fort 
Mifflin. This, though considerable, was performed without 
an assistant." The first pay he received from the State was in 
March, 1779, when it was equal to three shillings specie per 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PEXXSYLYAXIA. 101 

dav, and thus graduall}^ decreasing as continental money de- 
preciated till it was reduced to about three j^ence or four pence. 
In Feb. 1781, there being no longer need of his services, he 
was discharged.^ 

In 1779, when the UniYcrsitj superseded the College, Dr. 
Hutchinson was appointed one of the Trustees by the Legisla- 
ture, and took great interest in its prosperity. In 1781 he 
refused the chair of practice, and in 1783 that of chemistry, in- 
fluenced doubtless by the wish to see them filled by the pre- 
vious incumbents of the College ; and further, not to embar- 
rass the organization of the medical faculty, in the existing 
unpleasant state of affairs occasioned by the abrogation of 
the College charter. 

In 1789, when the restitution of the rights of the Col- 
lege was effected, he accepted the Chair of Materia Medica 
and Chemistry in the University; and on the union of the 
schools, in 1791, was chosen the Professor of Chemistry. The 
further arrangement of the Professorships concentrated the 
medical talents of the city. In this result he heartily co- 
operated. 

At the time of his death he was one of the Secretaries of 
the Philosophical Society, and for fifteen years had been one 
of the Physicians of the Pennsylvania Hospital. 

The Chair of Chemistry, left vacant by the death of Dr. 
Hutchinson, was conferred, January 7th, 1791, on Dr. John 
Carson, a member of the Board of Trustees, but this gentle- 
man dying before entering upon the duties, the position Avas 
offered to Dr. Priestley, by whom it was declined. 

The reasons assigned by Dr. Priestley for the non-accept- 
ance of the appointment for which he was so eminently 
qualified, were that his views were directed to a country life 
as best calculated to permit indulgence in his tastes, and to 
aid him, by its seclusion, in his pursuits, and that this course 
would be of further advantage to himself and wife in conse- 
quence of a weak state of health. He therefore left the city, 
and settled at Korthumberland, Pa.^ 

' Pa. Journal, Feb. 6, 1782. 

2 Memoirs of Dr. Joseph Priestley, to the year 1795, Avritten by himself, 
with a continuation to the time of his decease, b}' his son Joseph Priestley. 
Northumberland, 1806. Vol. i. p. 1G3. 



102 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OP 

On July Tth, 1795, the vacant Chair of Chemistry was filled 
by the appointment of Dr. James Woodhoase, who in the 
following session commenced his course of lectures. 

In 1796 Dr. Griffitts resigned the Chair of Materia Medica. 

Dr. Samuel Powell GrrifS.tts was a prominent member of 
the Society of Friends. He was born in Philadelphia in 1759. 
Having been classically educated at the College of Phila- 
delphia, he studied medicine with Dr. Kuhn. He attended 
lectures during the troubled times of the Eevolution, and 
graduated Bachelor of Medicine in the University, July 4th, 
1781. He then proceeded to Europe, but, on account of the 
war existing between Great Britain and the United Colonies, 
went first to France. After spending some time in attend- 
ance upon the lectures and hospitals of Paris, he went to 
Montpellier, where, in the winter of 1782-83, he attended a 
course of lectures. An attraction of this celebrated school at 
that time was the distinguished medical philosopher Barthez. 
The following year was spent in London and at the Medical 
School of Edinburgh, when, after an absence of three years, 
he established himself in his native cit}s 

The first public enterprise in which he was engaged was the 
foundation of the Charity which has operated so beneficially 
in relieving the miseries of the poor, known as the " Phila- 
delphia Dispensary." This institution went into operation in 
1786 ; and, either as one of its Physicians or in the capacity 
of Secretary of the Board of Managers, his services were 
given to it till the close of his useful life.^ 

' The Attending Physicians and Surgeons were Dr. Samuel Powell 
Griffitts, Dr. James Hall, Dr. William Clarkson, Dr. John Morris, Dr. 
John Carson, and Dr. Caspar Wistar. 

The Consulting Physicians were Dr. Jones, Dr. Wm. Shippen, Jr., Dr. 
Adam Kuhn, and Dr. Benjamin Rush. 

To promote the aims of this institution, various means were adopted. 
From the "Pennsylvania Gazette" of Feb. 8th, 1786, we obtain the fol- 
lowing notice . — 

'• We ai^ happy to inform the Public that Dr. Moyes has kindly offered 
to deliver Lectures in the Hall of the University, upon the most interesting 
and useful parts of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy, after he has finished 
the present course, at half a dollar a ticket for each lecture, for the benefit 
of this charity.'''' 

The Dispensary was opened in Strawberry Alley. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PENXSYLVAXIA. 103 

Dr. Griffitts' connection with the College and University 
continued during six sessions, and throughout this period his 
lectures are said to have "evinced great industry in the acqui- 
sition of useful materials, method and perspicuity in their 
arrangement, and zeal for the advancement of his class in 
solid information. But the situation of a public lecturer was 
not altoo-ether con2:enial to his feelings, which were most 
gratified by an active discharge of the less conspicuous duties 
of life. Perhaps, too, the disinclination which he always 
manifested to hold any place of emolument may have exer- 
cised some influence in producing his resignation of a chair 
which was every year becoming more profitable, and even at 
that period conferred one of the highest honors within the 
reach of the profession."^ 

In consequence of his early studies in connection with Ma- 
teria Medica and Pharmacy, Dr. Grif&tts was deeply interested 
in the formation of a National Pharmacopoeia. In June, 1788, 
he was placed on a Committee of the College of Physicians 
to form a Pharmacopoeia for the use of the College, but this 
undertaking was permitted to slumber until 1820, when the 
College united with other societies for the formation of our 
present national work. Dr. Grif&tts served upon the Com- 
mittee then appointed, and for this duty his former experience 
well qualified him.^ He died in 1826. 

Upon the resignation of Dr. Griffitts, Dr. Benjamin Smith 
Barton succeeded to the Professorship of Materia Medica, still 
retaining that of Natural History. 

After twenty nine years of active service in the School of 
Medicine, Dr. Kuhn retired from the Chair of Practice in 

^ Memoir of Dr. Samuel Powell Griffitts, by Governeur Emerson, M. D. 
North American Medical and Surgical Journal, vol. iii. p. 151, 1827. 

2 In 1782 a small collection of receipts was published by Dr. William 
Brown, more particularly intended for the use of the Army. In 1788 the 
following action was taken by the College of Phj^sicians : "On Motion, 
ordered that a Committee of eight, viz., Drs. Redman, Jones, Kuhn, 
Shippen, Rush, Griffitts, Wistar, and Hutchinson, be appointed to form a 
Pharmacopoeia for the use of the College." The U. S. PharmacopoRia was 
first issued in 1820. In the Life of Dr. Thos. T. Hewson by Dr. Franklin 
Bache, and in the Life of Dr. Bache by Dr. G. B. Wood, will be found an 
interesting account of this work. 



104 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

1797. He continued to practise medicine, "however, until 
within a few years of his death, which occurred in 1819. In 
his person, movements, and manners, as well as in his mental 
constitution, Dr. Kuhn was rigid, stately, and punctilious, and 
has been represented as a " true type of the Old School of 
Society." 

Upon the resignation of Dr. Kuhn, the duties of his place 
were performed by Dr. Eush until the year 1805, when the 
two Chairs — of the Theory and Practice of Medicine, and of 
Institutes and Clinical Medicine — being united, he was elected 
unanimously to the Professorship. 

At the same time a change was deemed to be expedient in 
the Chair which had been held so long by Dr. Shippen. Sur- 
gery, during this period, had remained in association witb 
Anatomy and Obstetrics, when Dr. Physick presented himself, 
the vindicator of its just claims, and the representative man 
of its dignity and importance. He was unanimously elected 
Professor of that branch in the University of Pennsylvania 
on June 4th, 1805. It may be stated that the Chair of Surgery 
was created for him and by him.^ 

In 1805 the first action was taken with respect to the posi- 
tion of the University relative to other schools that had 
arisen in the United States. It appears from the Minutes of 
the Faculty, December 12th, that the subject was considered 
as a special one. It is the first time that any action was 
taken upon the question of the footing upon which students 
from other schools should be admitted, as follows: — 

' On Dr. Physick's election, it was Resolved by the Board of Trustees 
"That it shall be essential to obtaining a Degree in Medicine for the stu- 
dents to attend the Lectures of the Professor of Surgery." Minutes of the 
Board. 

In the University of Edinburgh Surgery was not early taught as a dis- 
tinct subject; "and even so late as 1777, when the College of Surgeons 
petitioned the patrons to institute a separate Professorship of Surgery in 
the University, they were opposed by Monro, then Professor of Anatomy, 
as interfering with his subject ; and he succeeded in getting his commission 
altered, so as to include Surgery, which was thus made a mere adjunct of 
the anatomical course, and continued to be so taught (if it could be said to 
be taught) until the institution of the chair of Surgery in 1831." — (The 
Edinl)urgh School of Surgery ; an Introductory Lecture by James Spence, 
F. Pt. C. S. E., Professor in the University of Edinburgh. Ed. Med. Journ. , 
vol. X. Part I. p. 482.) 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PEX^^SYLVANIA. 105 

''It was agreed that Daniel Newcomb, who had attended 
one course of Medical Lectures in the University of Cam- 
bridge, Mass., and another course of ten weeks in the Univer- 
sity of Dartmouth, IST. H., and had also studied medicine under 
the care of a respectable practitioner two years, should be 
admitted to an examination as a candidate for the Degree of 
M. D., after the expiration of the present session, during which 
he has attended each of the Professors." 

In 1806, the subject of irregular practitioners was taken up 
by the Medical Faculty, and a petition laid before the Legis- 
lature in the following terms : — 

" That many lives of the citizens of Pennsylvania are yearly 
lost by their being committed to the care of men, not quali- 
fied by education or talents to practise medicine. 

'• That this calamity has been very much lessened in several 
of our sister states by Laws to prevent any one exercising 
the profession of a Physician or Surgeon, who is not a gra- 
duate in some University or College, in which the branches 
of Medicine are taught by different professors, in an exten- 
sive manner, or who has not been approved after a previous 
examination by persons qualified for that purpose and ap- 
pointed by the Government. Your memorialists therefore 
humbly solicit that a similar law be passed in Pennsylvania. 
They do not wish it to have a retrospective operation, but 
request that its obligations and penalties take place from the 
date of the law." 

This, like every subsequent effort on the part of the Pro- 
fession to regulate its practice in accordance with enlightened 
legislation, had no influence with our political rulers. In- 
deed, the time has not 3^et arrived when restrictions upon 
assumptive claims to skill or wisdom can be tolerated by the 
community, the members of which must either suffer, or pro- 
tect themselves by their own intelligence and discrimination 
between true and false claimants for public patronage. 

The year 1808 was marked by the death of Dr. Shippen, 
whose career had been a distinguished one. Nature had been 
uncommonly lavish in his form and endowments. "His person 
\vas graceful, his manners polished, his conversation various, 
and the tones of his voice singularly sweet and conciliatory. 



106 ]\[EDICAL DEPAKTMENT OF 

In his intercoiirse with society he was gay without levity, 
and dignified without harshness or austerity." With respect 
to his powers of teaching, it is stated that those pupils who 
went abroad ''declared that they had met with no man who 
Avas superior to Dr. Shippen as a demonstrator of anatomy, 
and very few, indeed, who were equal to him." " In explain- 
ing the success of Dr. Shippen in teaching anatomy, we may 
take into view another faculty which he also exerted with 
great effect. He went through the subject of each preceding 
lecture by interrogation instead of recapitulation — thus fixing 
the attention of the students; and his manner was so happy 
that this grave process proceeded like a piece of amusement. 
His irony was of a delicate kind, and so blended with humor 
that he could repress forwardness and take notice of negli- 
gence so as to admonish his class without too much exposing 
the defaulter."^ 

In speaking of Dr. William Hunter, it was remarked by 
Dr. James that " it was under the tuition of this truly inge- 
nious anatomist and physician that the late amiable and saga- 
cious Professor of Anatomy and Midwifery in this Univer- 
sity laid the foundation of that celebrity which many years 
of extensive professional employment nurtured and matured. 
It was by forming himself after this model that, in the de- 
livery of his interesting lectures, he at once delighted the gay 
and instructed the grave by the amenity of his manner and 
the utility of his practical precepts. 

'Metliinks I hear him now, his plausive words 
He scattered not in ears, but grafted them. 
To grow there and to bear.' "^ 

The merits and reputation of Dr. Shippen were recognized 
abroad as well as at home. From the "Pennsylvania Chroni- 
cle" of May 2, 1768, the subjoined notice has been taken : " Dr. 
William Shippen, Jr. of this City, was on the third of Feb- 
ruary last unanimously elected a Fellow of the Eoyal College 

' Wistar's Eulogium. 

^ MS. Lecture, Introductory to his Course on Obstetrics, 1810, by Thomas 
C. James, M. D., etc. 



THE UXIYEESITY OF PEXXSYLVANIA. 107 

of Physicians of Edinburgli." In 1805 he was chosen Presi- 
dent of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, succeeding, 
as the second President, the venerable Dr. John Redman. 
This ofiice he held until his death. 

On the decease of Dr. Shippen, the full duties of the Pro- 
fessorship were assumed by Dr. Wistar, by whom for some 
time previous they had been performed, teaching during the 
succeeding years both anatomy and midwifery. 

In 1809, a change was brought about in the Chair of 
Chemistry by the death of Dr. Woodhouse. This gentleman 
was born in Philadelphia in 1770, and was educated at the 
University, from which, in 1787, he received the degree of 
A. B. He studied medicine with Dr. Rush, and graduated 
in 1792, as Doctor of Medicine, at the first Commencement 
after the union of the Schools. His Inaugural Essa}^ was 
upon the " Persimmon." Before his graduation he had served 
in the army as a medical assistant, and took part in the un- 
fortunate campaign of General St. Clair against the Indians, 
during which he was exposed to the risk of massacre which 
befell the army of that- commander. 

The attention of Dr. Woodhouse had been especiall}^ di- 
rected to chemical pursuits, in which he had acquired some 
reputation, and hence his election in 1795, under the circum- 
stances that have been detailed, although he had as his com- 
petitor so able a chemist as Dr. Adam Seybert. Immediately 
upon his appointment, it is stated, " he went to work with 
zeal, and delivered a course of lectures with great applause ; 
and as almost the whole of his time was devoted to the study 
of his favorite science, he added to the number, variety, and 
brilliancy of his experiments."^ Dr. Caldwell, who was an 
attendant upon his lectures, informs us that he became in a 
short time so expert and successful an experimenter as to 
receive from Dr. Priestley, who had just arrived in the 
United States, and had declined the appointment, very flat- 
tering compliments upon his dexterity and skill. That dis- 
tinguished gentleman, on seeing him engaged in the business 
of his laboratory, did not hesitate to pronounce him equal, as 

' Thatcher's Lives, p. 223. 



108 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

an experimenter, to an}^ one lie had seen either in England 
or France.' His enthusiasm was nnbounded, and his style of 
speaking of his subject sentimcDtally impressive. He intro- 
duced to his juvenile auditors the science by the term of 
" Miss Chemistry," and strenuously urged fidelity and devo- 
tion to her as a chaste and eminently attractive mistress. 
Dr. Woodhouse adhered to the doctrine of Priestley, and may 
be said to have been the last of the American chemical 
philosophers entertaining the belief in Phlogiston. His pub- 
lished contributions to chemical science were numerous. 

Dr. Woodhouse was succeeded by Dr. John Eedman Coxe, 
who for two years previously had been a member of the 
Board of Trustees. The date of his election was July 10, 
1809. 

While the election of a successor to Dr. Woodhouse was 
pending, the Medical Faculty took decided ground with 
reference to the qualifications needed in the Professor of 
Chemistry of a Medical School. Their views are thus pre- 
sented in a letter to Chief Justice McKeen, one of the Trus- 
tees, at his request. 

"It is particularly expedient that the Professor of Chemis- 
try should have a full and extensive knowledge of Medicine, 
because very many valuable articles of the Materia Medica 
are derived from Chemistry; and the nature of these articles 
can only be understood by a person who has a competent 
knowledge both of Chemistry and Medicine. The students 
of Medicine, who almost exclusively support the Professor- 
ship of Chemistry, are induced to do so in consequence of its 
application to Pharmacy and the different branches of Medi- 
cine, viz.. Physiology, Pathology, Therapeutics, Materia 
Medica, and the Practice of Physic. No man can teach 
Pharmacy unless he has had some knowledge of the Practice 
of Medicine, and the application of Chemistry to Physiology ; 
and the other branches of medical science above mentioned 
can only be taught by a chemist who understands them. 

" The teaching of Chemistry in this University has hitherto 
been confined to the Professors of Medicine ; and the success 

' Autobiography of Dr. Charles Caldwell. 



THE UXIYERSITY OF PENIN-SYLVAjSTIA. 109 

attending this arrangement appears to us good reason for 
continuing it. 

"In addition to this it may be observed, that Ave believe 
Chemistry is taught by Medical Professors in all the Univer- 
sities of Europe, that of Upsal excepted, where the late Sir T. 
Bergman was Chemical Professor. But in Sweden Chemistry 
is cultivated principally on account of its application to 
Mineralogy, and the Chemical Professors are not members of 
the Medical Faculty. 

" We beg leave again to suggest that our Professor of 
Chemistry has always taken an active part in the business of 
the Medical Faculty, judging of the qualifications of the 
respective candidates in everj branch of their profession, 
and examining Inaugural Theses on subjects relating to 
Medicine." 

The letter was signed by Drs. Eush, Wistar, Barton, and 
Physick. 

This expression of opinion was called for by a resolution 
pending before the Board of Trustees, that the Professorships 
of Natural History, Botany, and Chemistry, " should not 
hereafter be considered as pertaining to the Medical Depart- 
ment of the Faculty, although gentlemen of the medical pro- 
fession are and shall continue eligible to those professorships." 
The proposition was not entertained. 



110 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 



CHAPTEE IX. 

Separation of Obstetrics from the Chair of Anatomy — Estimation of this 
branch in Europe, and its elevation to an equal position with other 
branches in the Medical Schools — Dr. Shippen's endeavors to improve 
its condition in America — Election of Dr. James to the Chair of Obstet- 
rics in the University of Pennsylvania — The tardy admission of the 
subject to an equality with others — Mode of examining for degrees — 
New By-Laws for the regulation of the Medical Department — Rules for 
graduation. 

In 1810 a separation was effected between the two branches 
of Anatomy and Obstetrics, which had continued in the hands 
of a single Professor from the origin of the School of Medicine 
— a long period of forty-five years. This was owing more to 
the ignorance of the community at large with respect to the 
utility of Obstetrics than to the want of appreciation of its 
importance on the part of the profession. "Indeed, the 
public had to be educated to the opinion that science and 
extensive medical knowledge were required to conduct ' labor' 
with safety and success, as much as surgical operations or the 
treatment of disease." 

In Europe, Obstetrics, as an art and science, was forced to 
disenthral itself from prejudice and disesteem. In consequence 
of the fastidiousness existing among women, it was little ap- 
pealed to in aid of their sufferings. Delivery was assigned 
to, or rather permitted to be exercised by those entirely igno- 
rant* of its principles. Midwifery was in the hands of elderly 
women, who were usually conceited in proportion to their 
ignorance. To show that in the middle of the eighteenth 
century, midwifery was hardly regarded as belonging to the 
regular duties of the medical practitioner, it may be stated 
that Dr. Smellie, who afterwards contributed so much to 
improve and jDerfect it, at the commencement of his career 



THE UNIYEKSITY OF PEXXSYLVANIA. Ill 

" united the occupatiou of cloth merchant and practitioner of 
midwifery at Lanark."^ 

Instruction in midAvifery was first commenced in Edin- 
burgh in 1726. The patrons of the University then founded 
a Professorship of this branch, to which was appointed Mr. 
Joseph Gibson. With respect to this the following statement 
is made by Mr. Bower: "At the time Mr. Gibson made his 
proposals to the Town Council, the practice of Midwifery in 
Scotland was completely engrossed by females. The pro- 
fession of Accoucheur, little more than thirty years ago (from 
1817), was esteemed very unbecoming a gentleman, and so 
strong was the current of vulgar prejudice against those who 
practised it, that it was only in the most extreme cases, and, 
in general, when they could be of little or no service, that 
modest women would permit them to be called in for advice 
or assistance. Mr. Gibson solely instructed the midwives, 
and he was not a member of the Senatus Academicus. On his 
death in 1737, Mr. Eobert Smith was appointed his successor, 
and was the first who had the status of a member of the 
Senatus."^ 

" Dr. Thomas Young, who in 1756 succeeded Mr. Smith, 
may truly be considered as the founder of this branch in the 
University of Edinburgh. He opened a class for students, 
instead of confining his attention to the education of females, 
and thus was the means of preventing midwifery from being 
engrossed by a very ignorant and credulous set of practi- 
tioners. He furthermore applied to the Managers of the 
Eoyal Infirmary for permission to fit up award for 'Lying-in 
Women,' and was successful."^ 

"Even among medical men, for a long time after the 
branch had been introduced into the studies of the Univer- 
sity, the prejudice against it continued. In 1769 an act was 
passed by the College of Physicians of Edinburgh, declaring 
those who practised Surgery, or an}^ of its branches, including 
Obstetrics, disqualified from being admitted Licentiates of the 
College ; and this having been carried by the majority, a 

' Life of Cullen, by Dr. J. Thomson, vol. i. p. 10. 

2 Bower's History of the University of Edinburgh, vol. ii. p. 2o4. 

^ Ibid., vol. iii. p. 516. 



112 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

dissent from the determination was entered by Dr. Thomas 
Young. In this dissent he was supported by his Colleagues 
Drs. Cullen, Monro, Eamsay, Gregory, and Black, and by 
Dr. James Hay. In the progress of the discussion, which 
lasted until May, 1772, when the College reverted to their 
original resolution of prohibiting the practice of Surgery and 
its several departments, by Fellows of their own body, Dr. 
Cullen took, in a great measure, the lead at the meetings of 
the College. The following reasons were given in opposition 
to this act with reference to Obstetrics." 

" If the separation of Midwifery from Physic was the prin- 
cipal intention for passing this new act, it is certainly one of 
the most improper. Midwifery is a part of Surgery the most 
diversified that we know of, and the most requiring the 
general principles of physic. A judgment in physic is often 
inseparable from the practice of Midwifery, when it is not 
possible to have either the physician always at hand, or to 
render him useful unless he is exercised in the practice of it ; 
therefore it is to the interest of mankind to have the two con- 
joined, if possible, in one person." 

"We are persuaded that the public will think it for their 
interest, in cases which are attended sometimes with so great 
and sudden danger that physicians of the first rank should 
undertake the profession of Midwifery, and that the Legisla- 
ture will not suffer the College of Edinburgh to put a mark 
of contempt upon such physicians by excluding them from 
their Society." 

Before Dr. Cullen died this act was repealed, and practi- 
tioners of midwifery admitted as Fellows of the College.^ 

The elevation of Midwifery to its true position in England 
is due mainly to the writings of Dr. Smellie, Dr. William 
Hunter, and his pupil Dr. Denman ; while Mauriceau and 
Baudelocque were, by their clear and philosophical exposi. 
tion of its principles, mainly instrumental in establishing its 
importance on the Continent."'' 

1 Life of Cullen, vol. ii. pp. 89-697. Continued by Dr. Craigie. 

2 Dr. John Maubray is considered by Dr. Denman as the first public 
teacher of Midwifery in England, and in 1724 published a syllabus of his 



THE UNIYEESITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 113 

It has been seen tliat Dr. Sliippeu, while in Europe, 
cultivated obstetrical science. Upon establishing himself in 
business, he endeavored, by teaching its principles, to ame- 
liorate the evils which came from the assumption of its 
duties by persons destitute of competent skill or knowledge. 
In the " Pennsylvania Gazette," Jan. 1, 1765, we find this 
curious advertisement : — 

" Dr. Shippen, Jr., having been lately called to the assist- 
ance of a number of women in the country, in difficult labors, 
most of Avhich were made so by the unskilful old women 
about them ; the poor women having suffered extremely, and 
their innocent little ones being entirely destroyed, whose lives 
might have been easily saved by proper management; and 
being informed of several desperate cases in the different 
neighborhoods which had proved fatal to the mothers as well 
as to their infants, and were attended with the most painful 
circumstances, too dismal to be related ! He thought it his 
duty immediately to begin his intended courses in Midwifery, 
and has prepared a proper apparatus for that purpose, in 
order to instruct those women who have virtue enough to 
own their ignorance and apply for instruction, as Avell as 
those young gentlemen now engaged in the stud}^ of that 
useful and necessary branch of surgery, who are taking pains 
to qualify themselves to practise in different parts of the 
country, with safety and advantage to their fellow citizens." 

After giving an outline of the contemplated course, the 
advertisement goes on to state that, "in order to make the 
course more perfect, a convenient lodging is provided for the 
accommodation of a few poor women, who otherwise might 
suffer for want of the common necessaries on these occasions, 

lectures. His course consisted of twenty lectures, twelve of which were 
anatomical and physiological, and eigM practical. 

Dr. Edmond Chapman was the second piihlic teacher of this branch in 
London about the year 1730. " He was a practitioner in the country, and 
came to the metropolis once a year to deliver his lectures ; but his pupils 
were only instructed in the theory, as he had no machine ; nor were they 
allowed to attend labors, for Smellie first introduced these two great im- 
provements. Dr. Chapman first described the forceps," This instrument 
had been invented by Paul Chamberlain. — Sketch of Medicine and Mid- 
wifery in Demuans Treatise on Midwifery. 
8 



114 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

to be under tlie care of a sober, honest matron, well acquainted 
with lying-in women, employed by the Doctor for that pur- 
pose." This is the first attempt in this country to establish a 
practical school or hospital for lying-in women. By his 
exertions in this direction, Dr. Shippen succeeded in popu- 
larizing " Man Midwifery," and acquired a respectable share 
of practice. We are informed by Dr. Wistar, that prior to 
the Eevoliition, Dr. Shippen "seems to have had a distinct 
class of students in the branch of Obstetrics; after that he 
delivered a short course to his general class," and adds : " I 
believe there was no lecture in which he shone so much as 
in his Introductory one to Midwifery, upon the subject of 
dress and deportment." 

The union of Anatomy and Midwifery, after Dr. Shippen's 
death, did not continue without remonstrance upon the part 
of the Professor, Dr. Wistar. From the Minutes of the Board 
of Trustees, Jan. 9, 1809, immediately after his election, we 
find that he directed a letter to that body, " requesting, for 
reasons therein stated, that the Professorship of Anatomy and 
Midwifery be abolished, and that two distinct Professorships 
be established in this Seminary." The movement which 
ensued from this proposition led to the passage of the follow- 
ing resolution, April 11, 1810: — 

" That the present establishment of a Professor of Anatomy 
and Midwifery be divided, and that hereafter there shall be a 
Professorship of Anatomy, and a Professorship of Midwifery, 
but that it shall not be necessary in order to obtain the De- 
gree of Doctor of Medicine, that the student shall attend the 
Professor of Midwifery." 

On the 29th of June, 1810, Dr. Thomas Chalkley James 
was elected Professor of Midwifery. To no one could the 
duties of this chair have been more appropriately committed 
than to this amiable, gentle, and accomplished gentleman. 

But with the act of calling Dr. James to the newly-created 
chair of Obstetrics, it must not be concealed that a grudging 
assent was given to the propriety of elevating the subject to 
a condition of independence, and that its equality with others 
as a branch of medical science was denied, from the fact that 
attendance upon the lectures of the Professor was not made 



THE UXIVERSITY OF rENNSYLYA^IA. 115 

obligatory for a degree. For three successive years it 
modestly remained subordinate. In 1813 it assumed its 
legitimate footing, when attendance upon the lectures and an 
examination upon it became requisite for graduation. 

The followino" is the Resolution on the Minutes of the 
Board of Trustees, Oct. 11, 1813 : " Resolved, that hereafter 
the Professor of Midwifery shall be a member of the Medical 
Faculty, and that no person shall be admitted as a Candidate 
for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine in this University, 
unless he shall have regularly attended the lectures of said 
Professor for two years, provided, &c." On this event. Dr. 
Hodge, in the Life of Dr. James, thus forcibly comments : — 

" This triumph of Truth and humanity over ignorance and 
prejudice may be considered as complete. Obstetrics was 
confessedly equal to the other branches of medical science, 
and its practitioners and teacher? were authoritatively pro- 
nounced on a par with Surgery and the Practice of Medicine. 
The battle had been fairly fought and won, and Dr. James, 
who contributed so much to the happy issue, received now 
the reward so eminently due to modest worth, superior talents 
and attainments united with persevering industry." 

At the time of his election in 1810, Dr. James had Dr. 
Chapman associated with him, which connection continued 
until the bestowal upon the Chair of its full dignity and 
privileges, when the latter gentleman assumed new functions 
in the School. , 

The mode of examination for Degrees, from the foundation 
of the Medical Department, had been to subject the student, 
in the first instance, to a private investigation of his qualifi- 
cations by the Professors, and then, by public demonstration 
before the Trustees, to exhibit his fitness for the honor of 
the Doctorate. The latter process was technically termed 
" defending his Thesis." The first ordeal was the most import- 
ant. It in reality determined the fate of the applicant, as the 
Professors took care not to expose incompetent persons to 
the mortification of failure in the public exercises, and were, 
moreover, well informed by it of the preparation of the candi- 
date for a second examination. At the examination of 1810, 
a modification of the first step in the proceedings was adopted^ 



116 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

which has given rise to the conventional term for examination, 
even still employed, " The Green Box." With respect to its 
origin, we quote the Minutes of March 20: "This day, from 
certain difficulties having arisen, the Professors commenced 
the practice of examining the candidates leliind a screen. Mr. 
Naudain was the first candidate examined in this manner."^ 
In this way the individual was only known to the Dean. 
The custom of examining in the " Green Box" was formally 
abolished by the Faculty in 1821. The examination upon 
the Thesis was not always satisfactory, as cases are on record 
of failure in this part of the exercises. 

On the 1st of January, 1811, the Trustees appointed a com- 
mittee of their body to " revise the Bye-Laws and Ordinances 
that have been made in this Institution, and to report such a 
set of Bye-Laws and Ordinances as to them shall appear 
proper and consistent with the Constitution of the Seminary 
for the regulation thereof." 

On the 21st of January the following rules were enacted 
with reference to the Medical Department : — • 

"In the Medical Department there shall be a Professorship 
of Anatomy; of Surgery; of the Institutes and Practice and 
Clinical Medicine; of Materia Medica; of Chemistry; of Na- 
tural Plistory and Botany; of Midwifery; of Natural Phi- 
losophy. 

"The Medical Schools shall be under the immediate govern- 
ment of the Medical Professors, subject to the Kules and 
Statutes of the Board of Trustees. 

" The Medical Professors shall hold meetings from time to 
tiniefor the purpose of arranging and conducting the business 
of this department, and establishing rules and regulations for 
the preservation of order and decorum among the medical 
students, and they shall keep regular minutes of their pro- 
ceedings. 

"All questions (those excepted which relate to the passing 
of a Candidate for a Medical Degree) shall be decided by a 
majority. 

" Each student, and ever}^ other person attending a course 

' Dr. Arnold Naudain, of Delaware, afterwards a distinguished citifen 
of that State, and Senator of the United States. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PEXXSYLVA:N"IA. 117 

of medical lectures, shall pay to the Treasurer of the Univer- 
sity four dollars at the beginning of every session, and no 
Professor shall deliver a Ticket of admission to his lectures, 
unless at the time of application thereof, the treasurer's cer- 
tificate of the payment of that sum be produced by the appli- 
cant. 

"The Medical Professors shall, each in rotation, act as 
Dean for one year, and it shall be the duty of the Dean to 
arrange and conduct the business of examining the candidates 
for medical degrees. 

" The Professor of Natural Philosophy in the Medical De- 
partment shall not be considered as a member of the Faculty, 
nor entitled to a vote at the meetings of the Medical Pro- 
fessors ; nor shall he comprehend within the plan of his lec- 
tures any branch of natural knowledge for which there is a 
professorship especially appointed in the Medical department. 
He shall provide apparatus for his own use, and he shall have 
authority to make regulations for the government of his 
school, subject to the Eules and Statutes of the University.^ 

Rules for Graduation. 

" 1. Xo person shall be admitted as a Candidate for the De- 
gree of Doctor of Medicine until he shall have attained the 
age of twenty-one years, nor unless he shall have applied 
himself to the study of Medicine three years, two of which 
shall have been in this University; nor unless he shall have 
attended the Pennsylvania Hospital during one session at 
least, and also have attended the practice and been the pri- 
vate pupil of some respectable practitioner. 

"2. No person shall be admitted as a candidate for said 
Degree unless he shall have regularly attended the lectures 
of the following Professors: of Anatomy, Surgery, Institutes, 

1 This Professorship was instituted at the same time as the Cliair of 
Midwifery, as a part of the organization of the Medical Faculty. It was 
filled June 29, 1810, by the election of Mr. Robert Hare, wlio does not 
appear to have performed any duty, and resigned October, 1812. It was 
subsequently filled by the appointment of Dr. Robert M. Pattfrson, until 
the transfer of that gentleman to the Clialr of Natural Philosophy and 
Mathematics in the Department of Arts, in 1814. 



118 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

Practice and Clinical Medicine, Materia Medica, and of 
Chemistry.' 

"3. Each person intending to offer himself as a Candidate 
for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine, shall, on or before the 
10th day of March of the year in which he offers himself as a 
Candidate, signify such intention in writing to the Dean, and 
shall, one week at least before the time appointed for his 
examination, deliver to the Dean a Thesis on some Medical 
Subject, which subject shall have been approved by the Pro- 
fessors. The Candidate shall then be examined privately by 
the Professors npon the various branches of Medicine, and 
upon his Thesis in the presence of such of the Trustees as 
may choose to attend, notice of the time of examination 
having previously been given to them. If he be found quali- 
fied for the Degree, he shall be so reported by the Dean to 
the Provost, who shall communicate such report to the 
Trustees, in order that if approved by them, their Mandamus 
may be issued for conferring the Degree, at snch time as they 
may judge expedient. 

" 4. The Thesis may be published, if the Candidate desire 
it; the permission of the Professor by whom he was examined 
thereon having been first obtained, but no alteration shall be 
made therein after such permission shall have been given ; 
and a copy of the Thesis shall be deposited in every case in 
the University Library before the degree be conferred.^ 

" 5. Each graduate in Medicine shall pay to the Provost 
three dollars as an honorarium, and to the Yice- Provost two 
dollars as an honorarium, at the time of placing their signa- 
tures to the Diploma." 

The fee for graduation had been regulated in 1809, by 
requiring of the graduate the sum of five dollars to each Pro- 

' Midwifery was omitted as a branch necessary for graduation, and did 
not rank on an equality with the other branches until 1813. See ante. 

2 It had been enacted in 1802, " That the Dean inform each Candidate 
upon his application, that if it should appear upon inspection of his Thesis 
tliat he was not well acquainted with Orthography he will not be regarded 
as qualified for a Degree." In 1806 the candidate was reheved of the 
necessity of publishing his Thesis, and it was made optional with him to 
print it or not, as in the regulation above. 



THE UNIVEESITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 119 

fessor. In the arrangements subsequently made between the 
Trustees and the Professors, the specific fees of the Provost 
and Yice-Provost have been commuted for an addition to 
their salaries. The pecuniary understanding between the 
Board and the Faculty has undergone many modifications, 
arising from an outlay of capital in providing accommoda- 
tions for teaching. The whole fee for graduation was fixed 
at forty dollars, which continued to be the regulation until 
1837, when the matriculation fee was fixed at five dollars, to 
be paid but once, and the fee for the diploma reduced to 
thirty dollars. 



120 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 



CHAPTER X. 

Death of Dr. Rush — His services to the Medical School and his doctrines — 
Election of Dr. Barton to the Chair of Practice, and of Dr. Chapman to 
that of Materia Medica — Death of Dr. Barton — Sketch of his life and 
labors as a teacher and naturalist — Election of Dr. Chapman to the Pro- 
fessorship of Practice, and Dr. Dorsey to that of Materia Medica. 

The University sustained a loss in the death of Dr. Eush, 
which happened on the 13th of April, 1813. It is a difficult 
task, after the lapse of more than half a century, to enter 
fully into an estimate of the qualities of this brilliant teacher 
of the medical sciences. We receive the impression of his 
ardor and enthusiasm from his early letters, when he first 
entered the portals of the temple of science, and we must 
appeal to the records of his life for the character he bore and 
the influence he exercised, when, in the position of priest, he 
ministered at its altar. For forty-four years he continued 
to expound the science of Medicine to admiring listeners, 
attracted by the polish of his language, the smoothness of his 
diction, and the clearness of his expositions. As age ad- 
vanced, he truly became the "old man eloquent," and had 
the satisfaction of witnessing the progressive increase of the 
class in attendance upon his lectures, from the small number 
with which he began his career to over four hundred at its 
close.^ He died with the satisfaction of knowing that the 
popularity that had been attendant upon his labors, and 
which had contributed so much to the success of the Univer- 
sity, had not ceased nor waned, for his eye was not dimmed, 
nor was his mental energy abated. 

On the death of Dr. Eush the following Eesolutions were 
passed by the Faculty, April 28, 1813 : — 

" The Medical Professors having convened for the purpose 

' See Appendix F. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 121 

of uniting in a testimonial of respect to the memory of their 
late colleague, Dr. Benjamin Eush, Prof, of the Institutes 
and Practice of Medicine, and feeling sensibly the afflictive 
dispensation of Providence, which has removed from the 
Medical School one of its earliest and ablest supporters, 
Eesolved, that the Secretary be directed to record their high 
estimation of the talents, learning, and eloquence of their late 
colleague, and of his unwearied diligence and zeal in the dis- 
charge of every official duty. 

" That the Professors cherish a lively recollection of his 
laborious exertions in the promotion of medical science, 
exertions which have conduced greatly to the reputation and 
interests of the University, and have conferred important 
benefits upon mankind." 

To trace the course of medical science through its phases 
of doctrines and opinions, from the commencement of the 
eighteenth century, when a remarkable impulse was given to it, 
to the time when Dr. Eush terminated his labors, would be an 
agreeable and instructive task. It would present the account 
of the contest between the lingering power of scholasticism, 
monkish credulity, bigotry, and dogmatism, and the teachings • 
of experiment, observation, and reason.^ In Medicine, as in 
other sciences, the victory declared itself upon the side of 
humanity. There had previously been a fearful struggle, 
when death and the dungeon were the awards for the temerity 
of proclaiming God's own natural revelations, and of reading, 
.by means he had bestowed, the truths of science; yet, through 
such a terrible ordeal had science passed, and placed its heel on 
superstition. 

The difficulty is great of being entirely freed from illusive 
dogmas and long-continued prejudices, which have become a 
part of the mind itself, and tinctured its mode of operation 
and expression. This has been the case with Medicine. 
The metaphysical connection between the soul and body 

' The reader may be referred to two interesting and instructive works 
for information upon this subject : the "Life of Cullen," by Dr. Thomson, 
previously referred to, and the " Brief Retrospect of the Eighteenth Cen- 
tury," by S. 3riller, D. D., vol. i. The article, '-Medicine," in it, was 
written by the late Edward Miller, M. D., of New York. 



122 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

hung like an incubus upon all endeavors to ascertain the 
nature of the vital processes, and gave a bias to every effort 
to determine the secret of their production. For centuries 
the agency of the rational soul was the phantom of medical 
philosophers, who deviated from the natural history arrange- 
ment of the vital actions devised by Aristotle, and, not con- 
tent to study them in their manifestations to the senses, 
plunged headlong into the pit of blind, conjectural subtleties 
connected with causation. The idea that a vital principle 
existed, and modified the structural operations of the body, 
was obscurely seen by Yan lielmont and Paracelsus, and to 
their imagination became a presiding deity, or demon. The 
rational soul, the anima of Stahl, was but another form of the 
same fancy, which figured, even in the middle of the 
eighteenth century, in the explanation of the vital processes 
by so accurate and meritorious an observer as Prof. Whytt.* 
That Stahl himself had little faith in his own enunciation, 
and that he made it in deference to the authority of the school- 
men, he admits, when he informs us that the " introduction 
of the rational soul into his medical theory was not at all 
• necessary to its vitality, and assigns as a reason for having 
recourse to that principle, his fear of being suspected to 
maintain that certain corporeal actions could be performed 
without an agent. "^ To this ancient delusion Des Cartes 
administered the coup de grace by denying the existence and 
co-operation of a sentient soul in the production of the animal 
functions, and showing that the vital processes may be exe- 
cuted independently of mental co-operation. The teachings 
of Hoffman and Boerhaave were in accordance with the Car- 
tesian philosophy; when the last shadow of pagan theism 
and clerical superstition vanished from sight forever. 

We have alluded to the foreign origin of the physicians 
who first settled in the colonies, and to the education of those 
who, at an early period, went abroad to the University of 
Leyden, where Boerhaave was the presiding genius. He was 
the dictator of medical opinions, not only on the Continent, 

' The Works of Kobert Whytt, M. D., Professor of Medicine in the 
University of Edinburgh. 1768. Quarto, pp. 140 and seq. 
2 Thomson's Life of Cullen, vol. i 



THE UXIVERSITY OF PEXXSYLVA^^IA. 123 

but in England, and hence their transfer across tlie Atlantic. 
We have the authority of Dr. Eusli for stating that, until the 
period of the institution of the Medical School, the system of 
Boerhaave governed the practice of every physician in Phila- 
delphia.^ 

Boerhaave was a vigorous reformer, and did yeoman's ser- 
vice in exploding the fallacies of dogmas. He was versed 
in the mathematical sciences and natural philosophy, and 
although too strongly mechanical in his notions, saw clearly 
the importance of bringing to bear upon medical inquiry a 
correlation of the sciences. The whole system which he in- 
culcated may be judged of from the creed which he uttered — 
"Let anatomy faithfully describe the parts and structure of 
the body ; let the mathematician apply his particular science 
to the solids ; let hydrostatics explain the laws of fluids in 
general, and hydraulics their actions as they move through 
given channels ; and lastly, let the chemist 'add to all this 
whatever his art, when fairly and carefully applied, has been 
able to discover; and then, if I am not mistaken, we shall 
have a complete account of medical physiology." But Boer- 
haave had not disabused himself of the belief in the animal 
spirits as a motor force, and although inferring that each 
motor nerve had a separate origin, and hence an office, he did 
not, in his physiological system, take very enlarged or correct 
views of the vital properties of organized beings, or of the 
dependence of their properties on the state of the nerves. 

When Cullen came into estimation as a teacher, he reigned 
supreme both in Great Britain and America. His views and 
opinions superseded those of Boerhaave, and were without 
challenge until the rise of the Brunonian system, a compe- 
titor for credence. From his immediate connection with 
Cullen as a pupil. Dr. Eush, as we have seen, returned to 
America imbued with his doctrines, and warm in admira- 
tion of his mental qualities. But extensive observation, 
reading, and reflection, had taught, in subsequent years, the 
enthusiastic student that the line of speculation was not ex- 
hausted; and from a vast experience in the maladies of a new 

' Rush's "Works, vol. iv. p. 375. 



124 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

world, materials for thought were presented to him which 
were not dreamed of in CuUen's philosophy. 

That Dr. Kush aspired to be the founder of a system of 
medicine we are informed upon the undoubted authority of 
his biographer, Dr. Ramsay, who says: "In the autumn of 
1789 I visited Dr. Rush, and was received by him in his 
study. He observed that he was preparing for his next 
course of lectures in self-defence; that the system of Cullen 
was tottering ; that Dr. John Brown had brought forward 
some new and luminous principles of medicine, but they were 
mixed with others which were extravagant ; that he saw a 
gleam of light before him, leading to a more simple and con- 
sistent system' of medicine than the world had yet seen, and 
pointed out some of its leading features."^ 

The system to which reference is made in the preceding 
statement is that which has been familiarly known as the 
"Unity of Disease." With reference to this we may perti- 
nently quote the comments of one who, of late years, has 
written the Life of Dr. Rush, with the spirit of an ardent 
admirer, but whose medical intelligence led him to criticize 
the doctrine of the master. " This wonderful vision may be 
thus explained. Excitement or Life is a unit, and this can 
be accurately divided into healthy and morbid only; hence 
there can be but one disease, that is, morbid excitement. 
This position involves a huge universality, which very few 
minds, who have seen diseases, can at all comprehend; nor 
have we ever been persuaded that Dr. Rush himself had well- 
defined ideas thereof. We have always thought him most 
wonderfully entangled in the web of his honest sophistry."^ 

Attractive and plausible as have been the systems of medi- 
cal philosophy presented to the world, as generalizations 
they all partake of the deductive method of investigation, 
w^hich assumes first principles of too limited a scope to admit 

' An Eulogium upon Benjamin Eush, M. D., Professor, &c., University 
of Pennsylvania, by David Ramsay, M. D., Member of the South Carolina 
Medical Society, 1813. In this book is an admirable summary of the doc- 
trines of Rush. 

2 Life of Benjamin Rush, M. D., by Samuel Jackson, M. D., late of 
Nortliumberland. — American Medical Biography, edited by Dr. Gross. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PENXSYLVAXIA. 125 

SO wide an application as has been made of them. The ani- 
mal economy cannot be regarded as obedient to one single 
law of government, by which the vital operations of its parts 
and organs can be all accounted for; and the day has passed 
when even brilliant discovery in one track of research can 
carry captive the entire mind of the profession. The mine 
to be explored of obscnre organic operations admits of more 
than one approach, and to detect and make apparent latent 
trutlis requires access by numerous avenues. Modern re- 
search, by employing every available means and vastly 
improved appliances, has demonstrated that the forces that 
are active in controlling and regulating the animal organism 
are numerous and wide-spread. Haller, Hunter, and Bichat 
led the way in basing pathology upon phj^siological know- 
ledge, by which alone practical medicine can be successfully 
directed; and exhibited clearly that observation, expeiience, 
and inductive reasoning are the sure methods of obtaining 
right principles. Without these, as has been remarked by 
Dr. Rush, "medicine is an humble art, and a degrading occu- 
pation." 

From his valuable labors as an observer and the historian 
of disease, Dr. Eush must pass to posterity with honor and 
admiration irrespective of his theoretical opinions. The 
account of the Yellow Fever of 1793, and of the succeeding 
years, would perpetuate his name, had he written none of 
his other numerous communications, literary and scientific.^ 

Upon the death of Dr. Eush, the Chair of Practice was 
filled by the appointment of Dr. Benjamin Smith Barton, 
July 1-1, 1813. By this transfer, the Chair of Materia Medica 
becoming vacant, was filled August 3d following, by Dr. Chap- 
man, who had previously assisted Dr. James in the ofiice of 
Lecturer on Obstetrics. 

Dr. Barton carried into his new position in the Faculty the 
prestige of an extended reputation as a teacher of Materia 
Medica and the Natural Sciences, as well as the advantage of 

' For a list of the papers written by Dr. Rush, consult the Life of Dr. 
Rush by Dr. Ramsay ; also Jackson's Life of Rush. 



126 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

having been a private practitioner, and one of the physicians 
of the Pennsylvania Hospital. He did not live to determine 
to what eminence he might have attained in the Chair of 
Practice, as, after one course of lectures had been delivered, 
and as the other was about to commence, death terminated 
his career on the 19th of December, 1815. 

It has always been a matter of question whether Dr. Bar- 
ton would have distinguished himself as a teacher of purely 
practical medicine, as he had done in the chair which afforded 
the opportunity of indulging in the especial bent of his genius. 
His reputation rests upon his success as a naturalist, and cul- 
tivator of the branches of knowledge depending upon the 
natural sciences for their elucidation. 

He was born in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 
1766, the son of an Episcopal clergyman there settled. His 
mother was the sister of the celebrated David Eittenhouse. 
Upon the death of his father he was transferred to the charge 
of the Eev. Dr. Andrews, afterwards Provost of the Univer- 
sity of Pennsylvania, who then resided at York. lie studied 
medicine under the direction of Dr. Shippen, at the period 
when the University had superseded the College, and in 1786 
embarked for Europe to continue his studies. He was a stu- 
dent of the University of Edinburgh for two years, but did 
not graduate at that Institution, determining, from personal 
reasons, to obtain his diploma at the University of Cottingen. 

The predilection of Dr. Barton for Natural History, and 
more especially for Botany, evinced itself very early. He 
manifested very soon in life a taste for drawing, and "in the 
execution of his designs with the pencil, at an immature age, 
he discovered that taste and genius in the art which he after- 
wards cultivated with much success." It is said that his 
knowledge of drawing was acquired from the instruction of 
Major Andre, who was a prisoner of war at Lancaster. " This 
talent was often rendered subservient to his pursuits in Natu- 
ral History and Botany, branches of science which are greatly 
assisted in their acquisition by the investigator having him- 
self a facility in copying the subjects appertaining to them." 
It was Dr. Barton's opinion that " no man could become a 
wise, discriminating, and eminent botanist without possessing 



THE UXIYERSITY OF PEXXSYLYAXIA. 127 

that acumen in perception of proportion, color, Larmonv of 
design, and of obscnre differences in the objects of the vege- 
table world, which alone belong to the eye of the painter." 
That his bias towards Botany took a practical turn, we are 
assured by the fact that " young as he was at the time, he 
obtained from the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh an 
honorary premium for his dissertation on Hyoscyamus Niger , 
of Linnieus. It was the Harveian prize." 
• In London, during the summer of 1787, when at the age 
of twenty-two years, he published a little tract, entitled, 
" Observations on some parts of Natural History," to which 
is prefixed an account of remarkable vestiges of an ancient 
date, which had been discovered in Is'orth America. 

TVhile residing in the metropolis of England, he was 
treated with distinguished consideration by Dr. Hunter and 
Dr. Letsom, having attracted attention by his general scien- 
tific proclivities. He was at this time elected a member of 
the American Philosophical Society. The minute of his 
election reads thus: "Jan. 16, 1789, Benjamin Smith Bar- 
ton, M. D., at present in Edinburgh, corresponding member of 
the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, late of the University 
of Pa., was elected a member." 

When the College resumed its functions in 1789, Dr. Bar- 
ton, then twenty-four years of age, was chosen the Professor 
of Natural History and Botany. As has been shown. Botany 
had been taught by Dr. Kuhn in 1768, and the subject had 
been considered of sufiicient importance to be appended to 
the Chair of Materia Medica. When, in the new order of 
things, the two institutions were exercising separately their 
functions, and Dr. Kuhn had assumed the duties of Practice 
in the University, the professorship mentioned was created 
in the College, apparently for the purpose of securing the 
talents of Dr. Bartou. This he retained under the union of 
the two Faculties, and accordingly we find his name thus 
appended in the list of Professors of the University in 1792. 

The opinion that the natural sciences were important in a 
scheme of medical instruction may be observed to have con- 
stantly influenced the actions of the Board of Trustees, whether 
of the College or of the University ; for we find that although 



128 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

witlioat practical results, Mr. William Bartram was elected 
Professor of Botany in 1782. Altliougli Dr. Barton was not 
the first Professor of Botany, he was the first of Natural His- 
tory, and, so far as can be discovered, the "first teacher of 
Natural Science in this Cis- Atlantic World." During Dr. Bar- 
ton's pupilage, however, it would appear that no instruction 
in Natural History, not even in Botany, was given. He was 
essentially self-taught, as he expressly declares in a preface 
to a " Discourse on some of the Principal Desiderata in Natu-- 
ral History, &c." " I have never attended any lectures, how- 
ever imperfect, on Natural Science or Botany." It is inferred 
from this that Dr. Kuhn, at the time of Dr. Barton's pupilage, 
must have discontinued his lectures on Botany. 

Preparation in the natural sciences did not constitute a 
requisite for graduation, and was therefore voluntary on the 
part of the student, and yet no complaint has been handed 
down, or recorded, of want of encouragement; indeed, the 
zeal and enthusiasm of the incumbent of the chair, with his 
skill in making attractive his then novel and curious subjects 
of information, were sufS.cient to awaken attention and secure 
satisfactory patronage. He, in fact, created a taste for these 
pursuits, that has never been lost in this community, and 
which has ultimately developed itself in permanent establish- 
ments for the cultivation of the natural sciences. 

Dr. Barton was eminently a pioneer in exploring the 
treasures of the Western Continent. Pie employed compe- 
tent persons to collect the botanical productions of various 
sections of the country, who, while thus engaged in the ser- 
vice of a patron, laid the foundation of their own reputa- 
tion. The researches of Pursh were encouraged by him. 
In the preface to the "Flora Americana Septentrionalis, by 
Frederick Pursh," who was curator of the garden of William 
Hamilton, Esq. (Woodlands), he states that at this period, 
between the years 1802 and 1805, he " had also formed a 
connection with Dr. Benjamin Smith Barton, Professor of 
Botany in the University of Pennsylvania, whose industrious 
researches in all the branches of Natural History are so well 
known to the literary world. He likewise, for some time 
previously, had been collecting materials for an American 



THE UXIYER3ITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 129 

Flora. As I was now very anxious to explore the remote 
parts of the country, particularly in the interesting ranges of 
the Alleghany Mountains, I was enabled, by the kind assist- 
ance of this gentleman, to take a more extensive range for 
my botanical excursions. The collections and observations 
made in the course of these journeys, all of which I commu- 
nicated to Dr. Barton, were considerable in respect to the 
discovery of many new and interesting subjects of Natural 
History in general."' Under his auspices, likewise, the late 
Mr. Thomas Wuttall laid the foundation of that extensive 
knowledge of our native plants which was embodied in his 
Genera of North American PlantsT^^ 

If the subjects of the Theses enumerated on the Cata- 
logue of Graduates during the connection of Dr. Barton 
with the Medical School be examined, one cannot but be 
forcibly impressed with the number which treat of the YegQ- 
table Materia Medica of the United States. It was a depart- 
ment which he fostered, writing not only upon it himself, but 
instigating his pupils to its cultivation.^ Nor are these essays 
jejune, for under the conducting hand of the master, they took 
the form of experimental and practical utility, and the pre- 
sent generation is under obligation for valuable researches, in 
the field of home productions, to many aspirants for medical 

' Pnrsh's Flora was printed in London in 1814, and dedicated to the 
eminent botanist Lambert. A journal of Pnrsh's has recently come to 
light in the collection of MS. of the Philosophical Society. It contains 
references to his communications to Dr. Barton. 

2 Mr. Xuttall came to Philadelphia in the spring of 1808. To solve a 
doubt in Botany he called upon Prof. Barton, who received him with 
politeness, and, "struck with the intellectual countenance of the young 
man, invited him to take a seat, and entered into conversation with him, 
pointing out the difference between the two genera, Smilax and Passiflora, 
and giving a dissertation upon the principles of Botany, and the infinite 
pleasure this science afforded its votaries." Mr. Nuttall was so deeply 
impressed by what he heard that he determined to pursue the study of 
Botany as an occupation. For an interesting memoir of Thomas Nuttall, 
we are indebted to Mr. EUas Durand. It will be found in the Proceed- 
ings of the Philosophical Society, vol. vi. 

3 Among the publications of Dr. Barton may be mentioned his " Collec- 
tions for an Essaj" towards a Materia Medica of the United States," and 
his "Elements of Botany," both issued at the commencement of the pre- 
sent century. 

9 



130 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

honors. Under liis training skilful botanists were formed, 
whose contributions have been creditable to their native 
country. 

The works of Dr. William P. C. Barton, the nephew of the 
Professor, are evidences of zeal and ability in the endeavor 
to render available a knowledge of the medical and general 
botany of the United States ; while of equal merit are the 
contributions to the same department of Dr. Jacob Bigelow, 
of Massachusetts.^ To the same source of instruction and 
encouragement may be traced the long life labors of Dr. Wil- 
liam Darlington, who thus most feelingly speaks of his pre- 
ceptor: " In November, 1802, I repaired to Philadelphia to 
attend the lectures in the University of Pennsylvania, where 
I was favored to become familiarly acquainted with Prof. 
B. S. Barton, who discovered in me a considerable fondness 
for the study of plants, took me under his special patronage, 
and, by his kind attention and instruction, gave a decided 
bias to my future pursuits. A Society w^as formed, called 
the American Linnsean Society, of which Prof. Barton was 
President, and it did me the unexpected honor of enrolling 
me among the members." Dr. Barton was in the habit, in con- 
nection with his botanical lectures, of taking his pupils to the 
Bartram Botanic Glarden. This was situated on the west bank 
of the Schuylkill, about four miles below Philadelphia. " It 
was established as early as 1720, by that great vegetable 
naturalist, John Bartram, the elder, at a time when nothing 
of the kind existed in the Colonies, except Dr. Clayton's, in 
Virginia. Here were concentrated very many of the indige- 
nous plants and trees of North America, and in a greater 
profusion, perhaps, than can be found elsewhere. Mr. Bar- 
tram and his descendants were industriously employed in 
making this garden for one hundred and ten years."^ Dr. 

' Dr. William P. C. Barton is the author of " Vegetable Materia Medica 
of the United States," publishe'd in 1818, in 2 vols, quarto ; "A Flora of 
North America," illustrated by colored figures, 3 vols, quarto, 1823 ; " A 
Flora of Pliiladelphia, " and other contributions to this branch of science. 
Dr. Jacob Bigelow is the author of the " American Medical Botany," pub- 
lished in 1817, and "Florula Bostoniensis," in 1824. 

2 Report of the Committee of the Horticultural Society, 1833. 



THE U^^VERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 131 

Darlington states that "William Bartram and Jolin Bar- 
tram, Jr., were then living there in 1804; and distinctly do 
I recollect the venerable men, though I little dreamt I 
should one day have to do with the history of the family."^ 

Dr. Barton himself erected the first Green-House in the 
city. It was in the rear of his residence on Chestnut Street, 
below Eigfhth.2 

Dr. William Baldwin was indebted for his early introduc- 
tion to the study of the science of Botany to the instruction 
received at the University. This, in after years, bore fruit 
in the exploration of the Flora of the Southern States, and 
that of South America.^ 

Another distinguished botanist. Dr. Thomas Horsfield, 
was a pupil of Dr. Barton. Before adventure led him 
abroad, he graduated at the University of Pennsylvania, in 
1798. His thesis was '' An Experimental Dissertation on the 
Ehus vernix, Ehus radicans, and Ehus glabrum." He was a 
native of Bethlehem, Pa., and went upon a trading voyage 
to the East Indies, where he was induced to settle, his talents 
and accomplishments finding occupation as naturalist and 
civil agent at the hands of the enlightened British statesman 
at the head of the Government of Java, Sir Stamford Eaffles.'' 
Dr. Horsfield, among his other communications with respect 

' Dr. Darlington wrote interesting Biographical Notices of John Bar- . 
tram and Humphrey Marshall, and edited their correspondence. A por- 
tion of Dr. Darlington's journal, from which the above references have 
been taken, is given in the life of that learned botanist by Thomas P. 
James, Esq., read before the American Philosophical Society, 1864. Dr. 
Darlington is the author of the " Flora of Chester County," an admirable 
work, and a model of the kind. 

2 This Green-House afterwards became celebrated in the hands of Mr. 
George Pepper, the father of Prof. William Pepper, of the University of 
Pennsylvania. 

3 Reliquiae Baldwinianse, by Dr. William Darlington. 

* The " New American Encyclopaedia" notices Dr. Horsfield as an Eng- 
lish traveller and naturalist. From what source this error came we are not 
informed. In the Philadelphia Medical Museum, edited by Dr. J. Redman 
Coxe, vol. i., is an account of a voyage to Batavia in the year 1800, by 
Dr. Horsfield. In 1802 Dr. Horsfield fixed his residence in Java, where 
he was found by the English when the island was taken possession of by 
them in 1811. 



132 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

to the botany of Java, wrote upon the Upas Tree, and dis 
pelled the fabulous traditions with reference to that plant, 
thus placing it in its right position among vegetable produc- 
tions.^ 

As has been stated previously, upon the Chair of Ma- 
teria Medica becoming vacant by the resignation of Dr. 
Griffitts in 1796, Dr. Barton was placed in it; and, for the 
first time, enjoyed the full privileges and distinction of a 
Professor. He was then thirty years of age. With this 
promotion "begins and rests the high professional reputation 
of Dr. Barton in Medicine." During the twenty-six years 
that he was connected with the Medical School, he occupied 
a position of prominence, and was greatly instrumental in 
promoting its rising reputation. Twenty-four courses of lec- 
tures on Botany were delivered by him.^ We are informed 
that, as a medical teacher, he was eloquent, instructive, and, 
w^hen occasion required, quite pathetic. In temperament he 
was irritable, and even choleric, though in his gentle moods 
he was kind, tender, and indulgent. 

In 1804 Dr. Barton commenced a semi-annual periodical, 
entitled " The Philadelphia Medical and Physical Journal." 
This work was announced to be devoted to original com- 
munications relative to all the branches of medicine, natural 
history, and physical geography, biographical sketches, re- 
views, extracts, and miscellaneous tracts. It was carried 
on irregularly until 1809, and, as might be supposed from 
the Natural History tastes of Professor Barton, was mostly 
devoted to that branch of science. Indeed, to be a punctual 
recorder of the progress of medicine and the sciences, and to 
endure the uniform periodical labor of an editor, were not in 

' See Magendie's "Journal de Pliysiologie, " vol. vii., from the Annals 
of the Batavian Society, vol. vii. Dr. Horsfield published, in 1821-24, his 
"Zoological Kesearches in Java and the Neighboring Islands." His col- 
lection of plants afforded the materials of Robert Brown's "Plantae Ja- 
vanicse." 

2 The Botanical Lectures were supplemental, and delivered in the sum- 
mer season. From an advertisement of the University lectures in Dr. 
Barton's publication, the " Philadelphia Medical and Physical Journal," 
we learn that the lectures on Natural History were delivered in Peale's 
Museum. 



THE UXIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 133 

accordance with tlie diffusiveness of his genius; and we are 
not surprised, therefore, to find that his efforts in this line 
were fitful. The work, however, is interesting, as being one 
of the pioneers of periodical scientific literature in this city. 

The tributes to Dr. Barton's scientific zeal and information 
were not withheld from him by the community in which he 
lived. In 1802 he was chosen one of the Vice-Presidents of 
the Philosophical Society. In 1809 he was chosen President 
of the Philadelphia Medical Society.^ Numerous foreign 
honors were conferred upon him. 

Dr. ISTathaniel Chapman succeeded Dr. Barton in the Chair 
of Practice, March 5, 1816, and Dr. John Syng Dorsey was 
placed in the Chair of Materia Medica, April 5, of the same 
year. 

' Dr. Barton succeeded Dr. Eush in the Presidency of tliis Society, who 
had resigned in consequence of the idea that a Professor should not occupy 
the position. An address from the Society led to a change of views in the 
Faculty, and Dr. Barton consented to serve. See Appendix H. 



134: MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 



• CHAPTER XI. 

A Faculty of Natural Sciences organized by the Board of Trustees — Death 
of Dr. Wistar — Sketch of his life and services to the University — Ana- 
tomical Museum — Dr. Dorsey succeeds Dr. Wistar — Death of Dr. Dor- 
sey — Sketch of his life — Transfer of Dr. Physick to the Chair of Anatomy 
—Election of Dr. Gibson to the Chair of Surgery — Dr. Horner ap- 
pointed Adjunct Professor of Anatomy. 

"When Dr. Barton left the Chair of Materia Medica in 1813, 
the associated branches of Botany and Natural History were 
without an exponent. This was not without attention on the 
part of the Board of Trustees, and on October 4, 1816, we 
are informed by the Minutes that the Board proceeded to the 
consideration of the plan for establishing a Faculty of Natural 
Sciences, and passed the following resolutions : — 

" That a Faculty, denominated the Faculty of Natural 
Science, be instituted in this University. The said Faculty 
shall at present consist of the following Professorships, reserv- 
ing to the Trustees the power to combine or subdivide the 
Professorships as may hereafter be found expedient, provided 
no such alteration take place during a course of lectures: — 

" 1. A Professorship of Botany. 

"2.- A Professorship of Natural History, including Greology 
and Zoology. 

" 3. A Professorship of Mineralogy and Chemistry, applied to 
Agriculture and the Arts. 

" That the Professorship of Natural Philosophy be detached 
from the Medical Department, and be connected with, and form 
a part of, the Faculty of Natural Science. 

"That the Professorship of Botany and Natural History, as 
part of the Medical Faculty, shall be and is hereby abolished." 

At a subsequent meeting it was resolved that a Professor- 
ship of Comparative Anatomy be added to those already 
established in the Faculty of Natural Science. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 135 

On Dec. 29tli the following elections took place : — 

Dr. William P. C. Barton was appointed Professor of 
Botany ; Dr. Charles Caldwell, Professor" of Natural His- 
tory ; Dr. Thomas Cooper, Professor of Mineralogy and 
Chemistry ; and Dr. Thomas T. Hewson, Professor of Com- 
parative Anatomy. 

At the same time that this movement was made in behalf 
of the Natural Sciences, the subject of a Botanical Garden was 
taken up by the University. In 1815 it was brought before 
the Trustees in connection with a successful effort to interest 
the Legislature. The following action was taken Nov. 17: — 

" On Motion, the Board agreed to the following : Whereas, 
the Legislature of Pennsylvania, by their act passed the 19th 
of March, 1807, granted the Trustees of the Institution, out of 
the monies due to the State, the sura of Three Thousand Dol- 
lars for the purpose of enabling them to establish a Garden for 
the improvement of the Science of Botany ; Resolved, that a 
Committee be appointed to consider and report the best method 
of carrying the said intention of the Legislature into effect." 

In 1816 this Committee reported, that in aid of the fund in 
possession of the University, "they have prepared subscription 
papers for circulation under direction of the Board." To this 
the Medical Faculty liberally responded.^ The enterprise ap- 
pears to have so far succeeded as to induce the Trustees, in 
1817, to purchase forty-two acres of ground in Penn Township, 
near the canal road, for the sum of eight thousand dollars. 

In the spring of 1818, the Professor of Botany, Dr. W. P. C. 
Barton, was permitted to use the yard attached to the Univer- 
sity building in Ninth Street, for the purposes of a Botanic 
Garden. Upon the resignation of Dr. Barton no further idea 
was entertained of maintaining a Botanic Garden, and the land 
near the city was soon after sold by the University. 

The year 1818 was marked by the death of Dr. Wistar. Dr. 
Caspar Wistar was of German origin. His paternal grandfather 
came from Hilsbach, near Heidelberg, in the Lower Palatinate, 
and at an early period settled in Pennsylvania. His parents 

' From a subscription paper which has turned up in the Philosophical 
Society, it appears the Medical Faculty subscribed six hundred dollars. 



136 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

belonged to the Society of Friends. He was born in the city 
of Philadelphia, Sept. 13, 1761, and received a classical educa- 
tion — indeed, he acquired so much familiarity with the Latin 
language as to be able readily to express himself in it. We 
are told by his biographer. Chief Justice Tilghman, that his 
determinatioQ to study medicine was settled by an event which 
aroused his benevolent impulses. " This event was the battle 
of Germantown, in 1777. His religious principles kept him 
out of the battle, but his humanity led him to seek the wounded 
soldier, and he was active in assisting those who were adminis- 
tering relief. His benevolent heart was affected by their suf- 
ferings, and so deeply was he struck with the happy effects of 
the medical art, that he determined to devote his life to a pro- 
fession formed to alleviate the miseries of mankind." 

He studied medicine with Dr. Eedman, and, while a student, 
was further benefited by the instruction of Dr. John Jones, 
then practising surgery in Philadelphia.' He graduated as 
Bachelor of Medicine in 1782, at the University. As it is 
stated that he commenced his studies in 1777, he must have 
been one of the last pupils of the College, and among the first 
of the University; and it is not to be wondered at, therefore, 
that he should so ardently desire, and so actively exert himself 
to bring about their union in after times. 

The statement has been made by Judge Tilghman, and re- 
peated by other biographers, that the Faculty of Medicine, as 
then constituted, " were not all of one theory, and each Profes- 
sor examined with an eye to his own system ; of this Wistar was 
aware, and had the address to answer each to his entire satis- 

' Dr. John Jones was the grandson of Dr. Edward Jones, and great 
grandson of Dr. Wynne. To both of these physicians allusion has been 
made when speaking of those who emigrated to Pennsylvania with William 
Penn in 1682. Dr. John Jones was by birth a citizen of New York, and 
there attained to such eminence as to be appointed to the Professorship of 
Surgery in King's College in 1768. About the year 1780 he removed to 
Philadelphia, and became one of the Physicians of the Pennsylvania Hos- 
pital. His regard for Dr. Wistar induced him to exert his influence in 
bringing the Doctor prominently before the public when yet a young man, 
and it is reported that when prepared to perform an operation, he insisted 
on Dr. Wistar taking the knife from him and executing it. Dr. Jones 
performed the first operation of lithotomy in New York. The Life of Dr. 
Jones was written by Dr. James Mease, and appended to an edition of 
the surgical works of that author printed in 1795. 



THE UXIYEESITY OF PEXXSYLVANIA. 137 

faction, in his own way." The inference from this is that he 
had especially comprehended the teaching of the several pro- 
fessors, and had mastered their modes of thought and expres- 
sion. At the time referred to, the doctrines of Boerhaave and 
of Cullen had each their advocates in the Faculty. 

In 1783 Dr. Wistar went to Europe, and in June, 1786, was 
graduated Doctor of Medicine in the University of Edinburgh; 
ms inaugural essay, "De Animo Demisso," being dedicated to 
Franklin and Dr. Cullen. While pursuing his studies in Edin- 
burgh, he was elected President of the Eoyal Medical Society, 
a tribute justly to be appreciated, if it be recollected that the 
honor was conferred on an American student when the feelings 
incident to the Revolutionary struggle had hardly had time 
to be obliterated. Of the origin of this Society we have the 
account by Dr. Fothergill. "Several students at that time 
(1734), the foremost in application and knowledge, fired by 
the example of their masters, who had nothing more at heart 
than the improvement of those who committed themselves to 
their tuition, formed a Society, for their mutual instruction 
and advancement in their studies. Every student of a certain 
standing, who distinguished himself by his diligence, capacity, 
and conduct was initiated in this little assembly. Here the 
opinions of the ancients, of their contemporaries — nay, the doc- 
trines of their masters — were frequently discussed, and two of 
the members were always charged with the task of providing 
instruction and entertainment for the next meeting of the So- 
ciety."^ When Dr. Wistar was an active member he had, as 
associates, men who afterwards became prominent. In speak- 
ing of the elevation of Dr. Wistar to the dignity of President, 
Dr. Chapman informs us that " it was in this Society that he 
acquired great reputation as a public speaker, so much so that 
even in my time, nearly twenty years afterwards, the debates 
conducted by Wistar, Sir James Mcintosh, Beddoes, and 
Emmet, of ISTew York, were frequently spoken of by older 
members as very uncommon specimens of eloquence and 
ability."^ 

' Essay on the character of the late Alexander Russell, M.D., Fother- 
gill' s Works. 

2 MS. letter to .Judge Tilghman, among the papers collected by him for 
the Life of AVistar, in possession of the author. 



138 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

The year following his graduation Dr. Wistar returned to 
Philadelphia, a candidate for public confidence. In 1789, he 
became a trustee of the College of Philadelphia, which had 
just been resuscitated by the Legislature, and very soon ac- 
cepted the chair of Chemistry, as is stated by his biographer, 
Judge Tilghman, in "order to preserve an influence, to be ex- 
erted at the proper season, in effecting that arrangement which 
concentrated the talents of the city upon a single object, and 
gave just eclat to the labors of the distinguished men who con- 
stituted the Medical Faculty of the University." 

From the time that Dr. Wistar assumed the duties of Ad- 
junct Professor of Anatomy, in 1792, he devoted his whole 
energy and the resources of his well-instructed mind to main- 
tain that important branch — the foundation of all medical 
knowledge — on the highest level of efficiency; and not only 
did he sustain himself without detriment to his reputation in 
contrast with the fair fame of Shippen, but from year to year 
surpassed himself. To quote the language of a biographer, 
"as his class increased in numbers, as was annually the case, 
and he perceived that he was operating on a wider scale, Dr. 
Wistar felt the responsibilities of his station augmented. He 
did not, as many are known to do, hold himself privileged to 
relax into indolence and the enjoyment of comparative ease, 
because his fame was established and his fortune made. He 
recognized in that fame, which drew yearly around him a 
greater crowd of pupils, nothing but an obligation to maintain 
and augment it by higher exertions and a more efficient dis- 
charge of duty." 

"To the elevation, as a teacher, he ultimately attained, his 
ascent was gradual, not rapid. It was the result of a lifetime 
of persevering labor, his achievements in the last surpassing 
those of the preceding year. Had he lived to complete the 
course of lectures, in the midst of which it was the pleasure of 
Heaven to terminate his career, it would have been decidedly 
the most excellent he ever delivered."^ 

With respect to the mode of instruction adopted by Dr. 

1 Eulogium on Caspar Wistar, M.D., Professor of Anatomy, by Charles 
Caldwell, M.D., before the Philadelphia Medical Society, 1818. 



THE UKIYEESITY OF PEN-NSYLVANIA. 139 

Wistar at tlie time he was in full occupation of the chair of 
Anatomy, the statement of Dr. Horner, in a letter to Judge 
Tilghman, dated Feb. 1st, 1818, is valuable, in consequence of 
having come from one so intimately associated with him. It is 
in the following words: "In reviewing the several particulars 
of his course of instruction, it is difficult to say in what part his 
cjfiief merit consisted ; he undertook everything with so much 
zeal, and such a conscientious desire to benefit those who came 
to be instructed by him, that he seldom failed of giving the 
most complete satisfaction. There were, however some parts 
of his course peculiar to himself. These were the addition of 
models on a very large scale to illustrate small parts of the 
human structure; and the division of the general class into a 
number of sub -classes, each of which he supplied with a box of 
bones, in order that they might become thoroughly acquainted 
with the human skeleton, a subject which is acknowledged by 
all to be at the very foundation of Anatomical Knowledge. The 
idea of the former mode of instruction was acted on for the 
first time about fifteen years ago. It commenced with a model 
of wax, representing the bones of the Human Ear. This was 
followed by a wax model of the Temporal Bone, about eighteen 
inches in diameter; and one of the External Ear. The benefit 
attending this mode of instruction became now so obvious that 
a regular system of modelling was undertaken, and no year 
since has been passed over without the addition of some such 
article to his Anatomical Museum." 

The large-sized wooden models of the sphenoid, palate, and 
ethmoidal bones, the temporal bone, and the labyrinth of the 
ear, as well as of the brain in sections, from which the successive 
classes of students to the present day, in connection with the 
demonstrations of subsequent professors, have benefited, were 
most carefully prepared under the direction of Professor Wis- 
tar by Mr. Kush, the most celebrated carver of his time in 
Philadelphia. 

In speaking of this mode of instruction. Dr. Dorsey, in a 
letter to Judge Tilghman, says, "that, finding it impossible to 
demonstrate to several hundred pupils at once the minute 
structure of the various organs, he contrived models on a very 
large scale, to illustrate these difficult subjects, and though not 



140 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

the first who had resorted to this method in teaching anatomy, 
he has more than the honor of invention by carrying the plan 
very completely into effect. Others had used it in one or two 
instances; Wistar applied it to every difficult piece of anato- 
mical structure, and in his Museum of Models he has bequeathed 
a rich treasure to his successors in the Anatomical chair. No 
one could fail to become an anatomist who diligently attended 
his lectures." 

The preparations made to illustrate the several portions of 
the body, including injections of the several organs, corroded 
specimens and wet preparations constituted the anatomical 
museum of Dr. Wistar, which, upon his decease, was presented 
to the University by his relict.^ It was for years styled the 
WiSTAK Museum; but, vastly augmented as it became by the 
indefatigable exertions of Dr. Horner, and further enriched 
by the skill and industry of the present Professor of Anatomy, 
Dr. Leidy, as well as by other contributors, it may safely be 
regarded as unsurpassed in this country as a collection for 
teaching purposes.^ 

Dr. Wistar published a work on Anatomy in 1811 f and 
there is no doubt, from the description therein given, "of his 
having first observed and described the posterior portion of 
the Ethmoid Bone in its most perfect state, viz., with the tri- 
angular bones attached to it." Of this discovery the distin- 
guished anatomist Yon Soemmering, of Munich, wrote thus to 
Dr. Wistar, Jan. 17, 1819: " The neat specimens of Ossa Sphe- 
noideum and Ethnoideum are invaluable additions to my 
Anatomical Collection, having never seen them myself in so 

' On the reception of this gift the following resolution was passed : 
" That the Anatomical Museum presented to the Trustees for the use of 
the Medical School by the family of the late Professor of Anatomy, Dr. 
Caspar Wistar, be styled the Wistar Museum.''^ 

2 The Museum at present contains, in addition to what has been stated, a 
large collection of materials for illustrating the Chair of Practice, procured 
by Dr. "Wood in Europe, when first assuming its duties, and subsequently 
augmented by him ; also the Materia Medica collection, and the materials 
pertaining to all the demonstrative branches. There are also in it some 
curious wax models by Dr. Chovet, donated by the Pennsylvania Hospital. 
Dr. Chovet was a French physician, who taught Anatomy to private 
classes as early as 1775. 

^ System of Anatomy. 



THE UXIYEESITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 141 

perfect a state. I sliall now be very attentive to examine these 
processes of the Ethmoid Bone in children of two years of age, 
being fully persuaded M. Bertin had never met with them of 
so considerable size, nor of such a peculiar structure."^ 

As a teacher Dr. Wistar " brought to the Anatomical Theatre 
his deep and various learning, his habitual feelings, and even 
something of his colloquial vivacity. Although he was 
strikingly fluent and truly learned, still, there was something 
in his eloquence peculiarly his own. His was the eloquence 
of sentiment rather than of manner; and his persuasiveness 
owed almost as much to his disposition as to the great import- 
ance of the truths that he unfolded." 

" He seemed to have identified Anatomy with his common 
thoughts, and the language in which he expressed himself 
seemed like the appropriate expressions of his familiar conver- 
sation."* 

The specialty which Dr. Wistar cultivated with so much 
success did not preclude attention to other branches of science. 
His reputation rests doubtless upon his success as a writer and 
teacher of Anatomy, but, as has been stated, he commenced his 
professional career as a teacher of Chemistry, with which branch 
he had acquired considerable familiarity when pursuing his 
studies abroad. He was also versed in Botany and Mineralogy, 
and was so much interested in the discovery of organic remains 
on this continent, then first attracting the attention of the 
scientific world, as to institute steps to secure their preserva- 
tion. The prosecution of this most laudable enterprise, in 
which so much reputation has been gained of late years, was 
arrested by his death. 

The scientific reputation of Dr. Wistar, as well as the ex- 
tended information possessed by him, induced his associates in 
the Philosophical Society to elect him its President in 1815, as 
the successor of Jefferson. Prior to this he had served the 
Society in the capacity of Vice-President, to which position he 
had been chosen in 1795. He was in the habit of receiving 
his friends and scientific strangers at his house on Sunday 

' Letter in Tilghman's papers for the Life of Dr. Wistar. 
^ Dr. CaldwelFs Eulo'dum. 



142 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

evenings. Upon his death a social circle was formed among 
the members of the Philosophical Society, to which was given 
the name of Wistar Parties. The meetings were held on 
Saturday evenings, and continued until within a few years. 

Dr. Wistar died on the 22d of January, 1818, before the 
conclusion of his course, at the age of fifty-eight years, in the 
maturity of his intellectual force, and at the highest point in 
his profession to which earthly ambition can aspire. " Beloved, 
respected, honored by all who knew him, his virtue had secured 
him the affections of his friends, his talents and industry the 
respect and esteem of the community in which he lived."^ 

The Chair of Anatomy, thus suddenly vacated, was filled 
May 5, 1818, by the election of Dr. John Syng Dorsey, who 
had supplied the void in the session occasioned by the un- 
toward event of Dr. Wistar's death. 

On July 7, 1818, Dr. Coxe was transferred from the Professor- 
ship of Chemistry to that of Materia Medica. At this time the 
title of the Chair was changed in accordance with the action of 
the Board of Trustees, to wit: " Resolved, that the Professor of 
Materia Medica be henceforth styled Professor of Materia 
Medica and Pharmacy, and that teaching the Principles of the 
Pharmaceutic Art shall be a part of his duties."^ 

The Professorship of Chemistry, vacated by the transfer of 
Dr. Coxe, was conferred, Sept. 18, 1818, on Dr. Robert Hare. 

At the commencement of the course in 1818, another heavy 
misfortune befell the University in the death of Dr. Dorsey. 
This event occurred on the 10th of November. 

Dr. John Syng Dorsey was a native of Philadelphia, and was 
born in 1783. He was educated at the Friends' Academy, and 
at the early age of fifteen years commenced the study of Medi- 
cine with his uncle. Dr. Physick. At the age of nineteen he 

' Memoir of Dr. Caspar Wistar by Caspar Morris, M. D.; Lives of Emi- 
nent Physicians and Surgeons, &c., edited by Samuel D. Gross, M. D., &c. 
We would refer to this excellent memoir for a true portraiture of the cha- 
racter and moral qualities of this distinguished Professor. 

2 The change of title was published at the time of the annunciation of 
the lectures of 1819, It was probably made with reference to the granting 
of Degrees in Pharmacy, although it was only the recurrence to the old 
title of the Chair. See ante, p. 93. 



THE U^'IVERSITY OF PEX^'SYLVAXIA. 14:3 

was admitted to the Doctorate at the Commencement of 1802; 
the Trustees, upon application to them, having dispensed with 
the rule which prohibited the conferring of the degree of M. D. 
on any one who had not attained the age of twenty-one years. 
His/;hesis was upon "The Powers of the Gastric Juice as a 
Solvent for Urinary Calculi." It was published in the series 
of Theses edited by Dr. Caldwell. 

In 1803 Dr. Dorsey went to Europe, and after spending a 
year improving himself in medicine, and especially in surgery, 
returned to his native city in 1801:. In 1807 he was chosen 
Adjunct to his uncle in the Chair of Surgery, and in that posi- 
tion continued until the decease of Dr. Barton, in 1815^ when 
he was elected to the Professorship of Materia Medica. In this 
position he remained until the spring of 1818, when, by the death 
of Dr. Wistar, the Chair of Anatomy was left without an occu- 
pant. For this position he was well adapted by education and 
experience, and was elected to it with universal approbation. 

At the time this new mark of confidence of the honorable 
Board of Trustees was conferred, sanctioned by the medical 
public, Dr. Dorsey was thirty-five years of age, and exhibited all 
the enthusiasm of a zealous, rightly inspired, ambitious candi- 
date for reputation in the field of enterprise before him. The 
course was opened, ai;id on the 2d of November he delivered 
his Introductory Lecture, which, from the portions published, 
was full of correct sentiments and elevated thought. It was 
the last delivered by him. In its preparation the seeds of 
disease were laid which soon terminated his mortal career.^ 
"On the evening of the same day that he pronounced his In- 
troductory Lecture, and while the praises of it still resounded, 
he was attacked with a fever of such vehemence that in one 
short week it closed his existence, leaving us only his enviable 
name and his inestimable example."^ 

While performing the duties of the Chair of Materia Medica, 

' It is stated that while engaged in the preparation of this lecture, late at 
night, towards the close of October, his fire went out, and without heeding 
the circumstance he continued his occupation, retiring thoroughly chilled. 
To this he attributed his sickness. 

2 Professor Chapman's Eulogium, delivered before the Medical Class of 



144 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

Dr. Dorsey published a syllabus of his lectures; but previously 
to this he had given to the public his "Elements of Surgery," 
which appeared in 1813. This work may be regarded as a 
faithful exponent of the surgery of the day, as it was taught 
by Dr. Physick, of whose opinions and mode of practice it 
Avas the record; and as it was practised by the author him- 
' self, whose position as a surgeon of the Pennsylvania Hos- 
pital gave him great opportunities for the acquisition of skill 
and experience. In that institution he tied the internal iliac 
artery, the first time the operation was performed in this 
country. Dr. Dorsey was well versed in the literature of 
European Surgery, and familiar with its condition from per- 
sonal observation. 

The Chair of Anatomy being a second time within the year 
deprived suddenly of its incumbent, its duties were temporarily 
performed by Dr. Physick, who was assisted in meeting the 
additional responsibilities thus thrown upon him by the ana- 
tomical skill and dexterity of Dr. Horner. In the following 
year Dr. Physick was prevailed upon to resign the Professor- 
ship of Surgery and accept that of Anatomy, to which he was 
elected, July 13th, 1819. 

The Chair of Surgery was filled, Sept. 7th, 1819, by the 
election of Dr. William Gibson, of Baltimore, who at the time 
was Professor of Surgery in the University of Maryland, and 
enjoyed a high reputation as a practitioner and teacher; and 
in 1820, Dr. William E. Horner was appointed Adjunct Pro- 
fessor of Anatomy. 

the University, 1st of Marcli, 1819. Pliiladelpliia Journal of Medical and 
Physical Sciences, vol. 1st. 

A very interesting Memoir of Dr. Dorsey has been written by Dr. 
Samnel D. Gross, Professor of Snrgery in Jefferson Medical College, and 
published in his "Lives of Eminent American Physicians and Surgeons 
of the Nineteenth Century." Another memoir was published by the Rev. 
Dr. Janeway. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PEXNSYLYAXIA. 145 



CHAPTEE XII. 

Degrees in Pharmacy — Foundation of six studentships in the Medical De- 
partment — Appointment of Dr. Dewees Adjunct Professor of Obstetrics 
and the Diseases of Women and Cliiklren — Settlement of the ad eundem 
footing of other Schools of Medicine — Application for the transfer of the 
Botanical Professorship to the Medical Faculty — Appointment of Dr. 
Samuel Jackson as an Assistant to the Professor of Practice, &c., to 
teach the Institutes of Medicine — Resignation of Dr. Physick, sketch of 
his life and services — Election of Dr. Horner to the Chair of Anatomy. 

Prior to 1821 no public facilities were afforded to apothe- 
caries in the way of regular scientific instruction, nor were in- 
ducements held out for the encouragement of their apprentices 
to qualify themselves thoroughly in the practice of the Phar- 
maceutic art, which is subordinate to medicine, and indispens- 
able to the success of the physician. 

It will be found recorded on the Minutes of the University 
that, in 1816 and 1817, Dr. James Mease applied for permis- 
sion (which was granted) to deliver the Introductory to his 
Lectures on Pharmacy in the College building. This was the 
first attempt, by private lectures upon the branch, to improve 
its condition. Upon the recommendation of the Professors of 
the Medical Faculty steps were taken by the Board to meet 
the urgent want presented, and on the 21st of February, 1821^ 
the following resolutions were adopted: — 

"1. That the degree of Master of Pharmacy be, and is hereby 
instituted, to be conferred hereafter by the Trustees of this 
University on such persons exercising or intending to exercise 
the profession of an apothecary as are and shall be duly quali- 
fied to receive the same. 

"2. That the Faculty of Medicine be requested to report to 
this Board at their next meeting a proper form of diploma, 
and also a list of such apothecaries in the City and Liberties of 
Philadelphia as are desirous, and, in their opinion, deserving of 
the degree of Master of Pharmacy, and unless subsequent 
10 



146 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

reason to the contrary shall appear, the degree of Master of 
Pharmacy shall be conferred on such individuals respectively. 

"3. That every person who shall have served a regular ap- 
prenticeship, of at least three years, with a respectable Apothe- 
cary, or a Master of Pharmacy, and who shall exercise or 
intend to exercise the profession of an Apothecary, in this 
State or elsewhere, may, on application to the Board, obtain 
the degree of Master of Pharmacy : Provided he shall produce 
a certificate of the Faculty of Medicine, signed by the Dean 
thereof, of his being qualified to receive the same, which certi- 
ficate the Faculty may grant on the attestation of the Professors 
of Chemistry and Materia Medica and Pharmacy, who shall 
have examined the candidate. He must also produce a certi- 
ficate of his good moral character. 

"4. That in future it shall be requisite for obtaining such 
degree that the candidate shall have attended at least two 
courses of Lectures on Chemistry and Materia Medica and 
Pharm^acy in this University." 

At the ensuing Commencement in April, 1821, sixteen gen- 
tlemen of Philadelphia engaged in the practice of pharmacy 
received the degree of Master of Pharmacy. 

This procedure on the part of the University, in the matter 
of improving and elevating the practice of pharmacy, aroused 
the enterprising spirit of the druggists and apothecaries of 
Philadelphia, and incited them to found a "College of Phar- 
macy," an independent institution, which, through the instru- 
mentality of its school and of its journal, and by its vigilance 
with reference to the conduct of its members, has been of 
incalculable service to the profession of pharmacy, not only in 
the city of Philadelphia, but throughout the United States. 

Another step taken by the Medical School in 1821 is not 
without interest. In IN'ovember the Medical Faculty addressed 
a communication to the Board of Trustees relative to the gra- 
tuitous admission of students. The terms of the proposition 
and the action of the Board sanctioning them are thus pre- 
sented on the Minutes of April 2d, 1822 : — 

"The Committee to whom was referred the letter of the Dean 
of the Medical Faculty, of the 5th of November last, on the 
subject of admitting six students to gratuitous admission, 



THE UXIYERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 147 

report the following preamble and resolutions. The Board, 
taking into consideration the letter of the Medical Faculty 
communicating that the Faculty, desirous of extending the 
advantages of a medical education to deserving characters 
who may be unable to pay the fees of attendance, had resolved 
to establish, under the directions of the Trustees, a foundation 
of six studentships, for the gratuitous reception to these lec- 
tures of six students annually, to be recommended to the Board 
of Trustees in any manner they may please to adopt. 

"Eesolved, that a Committee of three in number be ap- 
pointed by the Board, to be denominated a Committee on the 
foundation of six studentships, whose duty it shall be to give 
public notice, in due season, before the commencement of each 
course of Medical Lectures in this University, that applications 
will be received for the gratuitous admission to the Medical 
Lectures of six students, whose circumstances may not enable 
them to pay the expense of admission to said lectures. 

" That the said Committee shall, on the first Monday in Sep- 
tember of each year, examine and determine upon such appli- 
cations as shall be made to them, and shall, as soon thereafter 
as convenience will permit, distribute the proper tickets to 
such applicants as they may approve, and give notice thereof 
to the Dean of the Medical Faculty. 

" It will be expected that the applications made to the said 
Committee shall be accompanied by testimonials of the follow- 
ing qualifications : 1st, that the applicant is of good moral cha- 
racter; 2d, that he is in such restricted circumstances as to be 
a proper object of this foundation; 3d, that he shall have 
attained the age of eighteen years; 4:th, that he is possessed of 
sufficient literary acquirements, and of studious habits. 

"Eesolved, that the said Committee have authority to pre- 
scribe such regulations for the form and manner of the trans- 
mission of application to be made to them as they may judge 
expedient." 

Under this benefaction twelve gratuitous students, at least, 
are annually upon the books of the Medical Faculty. 

In 1824, the growing infirmities of age, in addition to the 
toil of a laborious life, prevailed with Dr. James to seek assist- 
ance in the performance of the duties of the*Chair of " 01)stetrics 



148 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

and the Diseases of Women and Children." This was acceded 
to on the part of the Board of Trustees. The resolution of the 
Board is as follows: — 

"Be it ordained that an Adjunct Professor of Midwifery shall 
be appointed, who shall hold his appointment so long as Dr. 
James continues to be Professor of Midwifery; Provided that 
the expenses of the students shall in no manner be increased 
by such appointment, and that such Adjunct Professor shall 
not have any vote in the Faculty of Medicine, except in the 
absence of the Professor of Midwifery to whom he is Adjunct." 

In accordance with this resolution, Dr. William P. Dewees 
was, on November 15th, 1825, elected Adjunct Professor. 

In 1825, the subject of an "ad eundem" footing was settled 
on more liberal principles than had previously prevailed. It 
has been shown that the question of admission of students of 
other schools was considered in 1805, and then placed upon 
the individual merits of each case. In 1811, a general rule 
was adopted by the Faculty which imposed the necessity of 
attendance upon two courses of lectures in other institutions 
and one in the University as a qualification for graduation. 
On the 20th of August, 1825, the Trustees passed the subjoined 
resolution, which indicates the footing on which students of 
other schools shall be received^ and which has always been 
adhered to since that time: — 

"Be it ordained and enacted, that students who produce satis- 
factory testimonials of their having attended one or more 
courses of lectures in any respectable Medical School in the 
United States, organized on the plan of the School of this 
University, and having attended one full course in this School, 
and having in all other respects complied with the statutes, 
and being found on examination to be duly qualified, may be 
admitted to the degree of Doctor of Medicine, it being under- 
stood that nothing is hereby intended to be dispensed with 
which requires an attendance on two courses of lectures in 
this Institution." 

During the same year (1825) Dr. William P. C. Barton ad- 
dressed a communication to the Trustees, desiring to have his 
Professorship of Botany again attached to the Medical Depart- 
ment; whereupon a report was made by the Committee to 



THE UXIVERSITY OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 149 

wliom the communicatiou was referred, to wit: "That it is of 
great importance to keep the Departments of Medicine and 
Katural Science under their present distinct arrangement, and 
tliat if at this or any other time it should be thought proper to 
make Botany a part of the necessary medical instruction, it 
will be most expedient to do so by the establishment of a new 
Professorship in the Medical Faculty, and not by the transfer 
of a Chair from one Department to another." ^ 

In 1827, it was deemed expedient to aid the Chair of the 
Theory and Practice of Medicine and Institutes of Medicine, in 
consequence of the wide range embraced by it. To effect this 
Dr. Samuel Jackson was chosen Assistant to the Professor, 
whose duties consisted in giving lectures upon the Institutes 
of Medicine. This he continued to do twice weekly, until the 
re-establishment of the Chair of Institutes in 1835. 

At the termination of the session 1830-31, Dr. Physick 
resigned his active connection with the school, and was ap- 
pointed Emeritus Professor of Surgery and Anatomy. The 
Chair of Anatomy was conferred on Dr. Horner. 

Philip Syng Physick was born in Philadelphia in 1768, the 
year of the first Medical Commencement. After the requisite 
preparation in classical studies by Kobert Proud, teacher of 
Friends' Academy, and the historian of Pennsylvania, he was 
admitted to the Department of Arts of the University of Penn- 
sylvania, where he graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1785. The 
same year he commenced his medical studies under the direc- 
tion of Dr. Kuhn, and attended the lectures delivered in the 
University. 

In 1788 he embarked for Europe, and for two years resided 
in London, as a pupil of John Hunter and part of the time as 
House Surgeon of St. George's Hospital. In proof of the esti- 
mation in which Dr. Physick was held while occupying this 
position, reference may be made to the laudatory testimonials 
of his medical qualifications and correct deportment from the 
governing authorities of that hospital. At the expiration of 
his services in the hospital, he received a license from the 

' Soon afterwards Dr. Barton resigned his Professorship of Botany in 
the University to take that of Materia Medica in the Jefferson Medical 
College. 



150 MEDICAL DEPARTMEXT OF 

Koyal College of Surgeons of London. It is stated that, at 
the conclusion of his studies in England, Mr. Hunter invited 
him to settle in London and to take a share in his profes- 
sional business. In his Treatise upon the Blood, Mr. Hunter 
awards to Dr. Physick the credit of many of the experiments 
therein described. 

The winter of 1791-92 was passed by him in Edinburgh, in 
attendance upon the lectures of the University, from which, at 
the conclusion of the course, he received the degree of M.D. 
His thesis, written in Latin, was entitled " De Apoplexia," and 
dedicated to John Hunter. 

There are two interesting facts in connection with his gradua- 
tion as Doctor of Medicine, which may be noticed ; the one, that 
it occurred at the time of the coalition between the two Facul- 
ties in Philadelphia, and the permanent establishment of the 
University of Pennsylvania, of which he was destined to become 
so conspicuous an ornament ; the other, that he was placed upon 
an ad eundem standing with the University of Edinburgh, and 
permitted to graduate with attendance upon one course. We are 
told " that the Professors of the University of Edinburgh were 
very careful upon whom they conferred its honors, and have 
never deviated from the resolution they had taken that none 
should be promoted to the honorable degree of Doctor of Medi- 
cine without having studied medicine at least three years at this 
or some other University ; at the same time producing certificates 
of having attended regularly the public lectures prescribed by 
the statute and submitted to be examined in the most solemn 
manner by the Faculty.'" We are not aware of an instance of a 
similar nature having previously occurred at Edinburgh in the 
case of an American student. 

Upon his return home, Dr. Physick was soon called upon to 
exercise his knowledge and his skill in aid of his terror-stricken 
and afflicted fellow-citizens, during the fearful epidemics of 
yellow fever that prevailed from 1793 to 1798. In the latter 
year he filled the post of Resident Physician in the City Hospital 
(Bush Hill), where his post-mortem examinations still further 
confirmed him in the opinion he had previously entertained 

• Bower, History of the University of Edinburgh. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PENXSYLVAXIA. 151 

with Aspect to tlie gastric origin and character of the disease. 
In 1794 he became one of the surgeons of the Pennsylvania 
Hospital, where he not only attracted notice by his great ex- 
pertness and skill, but by his lectures. His regular private 
course was commenced in 1800, and gave the promise of that 
reputation and authority he possessed in after years, which 
have truly warranted the appellation applied to him, "Father 
of American Surgery." 

Haviug been elected Professor of Surgery in the University of 
Pennsylvania in 1805, Dr. Physick was from that time in the 
possession of the widest field for the exercise of his talents, 
" and was listened to by the large classes in the University, 
through the members of which he could disseminate the prin- 
ciples of surgery imbibed from his celebrated preceptor, John 
Hunter — strengthened and enforced by his own meditation and 
personal experience obtained in hospital and private practice."^ 

The lectures were carefully written out, and delivered with 
the manuscript before him or in his hand ; for it was an axiom 
with him that, on so important an occasion as the instruction 
of youth in an art so necessary to the well-being and happiness 
of mankind, every care should be taken to render the inculca- 
tion of principles and practice clear to the comprehension of 
students. To be ready with these lectures, his habit was to 
rise early in the morning and carefully study them before he 
breakfasted, so that in the delivery nothing would be trusted 
to the mere effort of memory or the impulses of the moment. 
To be enabled to do this he retired early, his feeble health 
entailing upon him the necessity of more than the usual 

' Life of Dr. Physick, by Jolin Bell, M.D. Lives of Eminent Physicians 
and Snrgeons. Edited by S. D. Gross, M.D. 

The Life of Dr. Physick was written by his son-in-law, and entitled 
"A Memoir of the Life and Character of Philip Syng Physick, by Jacob 
Randolph, M. D., Lecturer on Surgery. Read before the Philadelphia 
Medical Society, 1839. 

Another Memoir, entitled " Necrological Notice," &c., was written by 
"William E. Homer, M.D., Professor of Anatomy, University of Pennsyl- 
vania. Read before the Philosophical Society, May 4th, 1838. 

Dr. Caldwell, of Louisville, Ky., also published a notice of the Life of 
Dr, Physick in the Louisville Journal. 



152 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

amount of rest to sustain him under the labors performed for 
many years of his busy life. 

Dr. Bell remarks that "Dr. Physick's impressiveness as a 
lecturer arose from his entire mastery of his subject, which he 
was careful never to magnify beyond its due proportions, and 
hence he always kept it within his grasp. The same thoughts 
and inculcations might have been uttered in a more masculine, 
certainly in a more ornamental style, compatibly with good 
taste, but it is not certain that the essence itself would have 
been productive of a stronger sensation, or been longer remem- 
bered by its being blended with these pleasant adjuvants." 

Much comment has been indulged in with respect to the 
expediency of the step taken by Dr. Physick in acceding to 
the transfer of himself from the Chair of Surgery to that of 
Anatomy in 1819. The feeling at the time, and subsequently, 
was that a descent had been made from a position in which he 
W3.S facile princejjs to one where his eminent knowledge and skill 
were lost, and which might have been filled with equal, if not 
even greater efficiency by another individual. In any position. 
Dr. Physick was capable of commanding respect ; his dignified 
bearing and imposing presence, his emphatic manner and pains- 
taking execution of his duties, deeply impressed his pupils, and 
commanded the profoundest deference. We know from personal 
experience that the portions of the course of anatomy delivered 
by him were listened to with earnest attention; and the writer 
well recollects the last lecture delivered by this eminent man, at 
the conclusion of the course of 1830. It was upon the blood ; a 
subject upon which he had experimented with Hunter. With 
the manuscript before him he descanted minutely upon all the 
points connected with the subject, and, with the interest almost 
of an enthusiast, performed the experiments. In this lecture 
he digressed to comment, in terms and with gestures eloquent 
from their force alone, upon the practice of vivisections, which 
to his sensitive feelings had always been repugnant, and earn- 
estly to discourage their performance. It was the honest out- 
break of his soul in public, accompanied by a flash of emotion 
which vividly afiected the minds of all who heard him. 

The. health of Dr. Physick did not permit him to assume the 
entire labor and fatigue of instruction, and during the period 



THE UXIVEHSITY OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 153 

of his connection with Anatomy, embracing twelve sessions, a 
large share of the work devolved upon his adjunct, Professor 
Horner. 

Although having withdrawn himself from his public occupa- 
tion as a teacher, and in a great measure as a practitioner. 
Dr. Phj^sick took part in important cases whenever his health 
permitted, until a short time before his death. In the autumn 
of 1831, he performed the operation of lithotomy successfully 
upon Chief Justice Marshall, then in the seventy-fifth year of 
his age; an operation remarkable in view of the professional 
position of both the individuals concerned in it, as well as of 
the advanced age of the patient. The oldest and the first 
of the legal profession in the United States had sought relief 
from the most painful of maladies at the hands of the oldest 
and first of American surs^eons, whose effort to relieve him was 
blessed by Providence.^ This was not, however, the last ope- 
ration of Dr. Physick, as he performed one on the eye four 
months before his decease. He died on the 15th of ISTovember, 
1837, at the age of sixty-nine years. 

Dr. Physick himself published little. Some papers, hardly 
more than half a dozen, referring to cases, or the description 
of instruments and surgical appliances, are to be met with in 
contemporaneous journals. For the account of the improve- 
ments in Surgery made by him, the world is indebted to 
others. To the Treatise on Surgery by Dr. Dorsey, and to the 
Memoirs, more particularly those of Drs. Randolph and Bell, 
must reference be made for an enumeration of the contribu- 
tions to the especial department of this eminent Professor.^ 

• For the interesting details of this operation, see Life of Dr. Physick by 
Dr. Randolph. 

2 In the Xorth American Medical and Surgical Journal, vol. ii. p. 209, 
is an account of Dr. Physick' s operation for artificial anus, by Benjamin 
H. Coates, M. D. In the same volume, p. 192, is a vindication of Dr. 
Physick' s claim to originality in its performance. 



15.1: MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Eesignation of Dr. James — Sketch of his life — Dr. Dewees elected Pro- 
fessor of Obstetrics — Eetirement of Dr. Coxe from the Chair of Materia 
Medica — Sketch of his life — Restitution of the Chair of Institutes — Elec- 
tion of Dr. Jackson to it — Election of Dr. Wood to the Professorship of 
Materia Medica and Pharmacy — Resignation of Dr. Dewees and election 
of Dr. Hodge— Sketch of the life of Dr. Dewees— Faculty as organized 
in 1835. 

In 1834: Dr. James resigned the Chair of Obstetrics. 

Thomas Chalklej James was of a family attached to the 
Society of Friends. He was born in the city of Philadelphia 
in the year 1766, and was educated under the superintendence 
of Eobert Proud. His medical studies were conducted under 
the direction of Dr. Kuhn, and in 1787 he took the degree of 
Bachelor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The 
following year he accepted the position of Surgeon of an East 
Indiaman/ and made a voyage to China, with the view of 
acquiring funds for a contemplated visit to Europe, to finish 
there his medical education. In this adventure he was suc- 
cessful, as the trade with the East was at that time very lucra- 
tive, and the situation of surgeon on board a trading vessel 
afforded greater opportunities of material profit than have 
subsequently been presented. 

In the year 1790, that of his return from China, he embarked 
for England, where he found his compatriot. Dr. Physick, pur- 
suing his studies at St. George's Hospital. By this gentleman's 
advice he entered, in May, 1791, as house pupil of the Story 
Street Lying-in Hospital, under the care of Drs. Osborne and 
John Clarke, two leading obstetrical teachers and practitioners of 
London. While in the capital of England, he received courteous 
attentions from Dr. Letsom, who belonged to the same religious 
society as the family of Dr. James. He attended the lectures 

I The father of Prof. Stille was supercargo of the Indiaman. 



THE UXIYERSITY OF PEXXSYLYAXIA. 155 

during the session of 1792-8 at the Uuiversitj of Edinburgh, to 
"which, however, he did not apply for a diploma.^ In the summer 
of 1793 he returned to PbiLadelphia, and witnessed, as an active 
participant, the scourge which that season devastated the city. 
Dr. James was not prevented by his religious scruples from 
taking part in the patriotic movements of the day, or from 
serving the cause of his country in upholding its government and 
laws. When the young men of Philadelphia were called upon 
by General Washington, in 1794, to lend their aid in the suppres- 
sion of the rebellion which first threatened the stability of the 
newly-formed Eepublic, Dr. James proffered his services, and 
joined the army, which marched from Philadelphia to suppress 
the disturbance in the western counties of Pennsylvania, w^hich 
is known as the "Whiskey Insurrection." He joined the ex- 
pedition in the capacity of Surgeon of "McPherson's Blues," a 
corj^s cVelite of young gentlemen, who had promptly tendered 
their services at the request of their President.^ 

The expedition was a bloodless one, from the force employed, 
which overawed the insurgents; but it tried the spirits and 
endurance of these delicately educated youths, and sometimes 
subjected them to depression. To dispel this, in a measure, 
fell to the lot of Dr. James, who, upon a drum-head, wrote an 
inspiring song, which was set to music, and sounded through 
the camp with renovating accents. 

Upon settling himself, again, a candidate for practice, Dr^ 
James chose the branch of Obstetrics as the vocation of his 
life ; and, from that time to the termination of his career, gave 

' Dr. James did not receive the degree of M. D. until his election to the 
Professorship of Midwifery in the University, when, at the Commencement 
of 1811, the Honorary Degree was conferred upon him. 

2 For an account of the body of troops mentioned reference may be made 
to Watson's "Annals of Philadelphia," vol. i. p. 331, 2d ed.; and for the his- 
tory of the political troubles of the time, to Marshall's "Life of Washington," 
vol. v., and the papers of the day. With reference to the readiness with 
which the military of the city responded to the call of their chief, and the 
gratification this evidence of their patriotism afforded him, the following 
statement was given me by a member of my family long since deceased. 
As a boy he made his way to near the stand of Washington, on his own 
door-step in Market Street, below Sixth, from which the troops were re- 
viewed, and heard him distinctly say, with emotion, as the Blues marched 
by him, " God bless you ! — God bless you, young gentlemen !" 



156 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

to it his undivided attention and tlie exercise of his cultivated 
intellect. Preparatory to the position he assumed in the Uni- 
versity, as has been detailed, he commenced, in 1802, a regular 
course of lectures upon Obstetrics, in conjunction with Dr. 
Church.^ With respect to these lectures, we are told that, " to 
render his teaching useful. Dr. James, assisted by Dr. Church, 
not only employed the usual modes of illustration, but zealously 
endeavored to instruct practically, as well as theoretically. 
For this purpose his influence and exertions prevailed in 
having a Lying-in Ward, the first in the city, established at 
the Almshouse, over which he presided as attending Accou- 
cheur."^ This was not, however, the first movement made to 
open a ward in that institution; he had been anticipated in 
that respect by Drs. Bond and Evans as early as 1770. To 
Drs. James and Church is due the credit of reviving the 
enterprise, and of having founded the present Obstetrical de- 
partment of the Almshouse.^ The association with Dr. Church 
did not long continue, terminating by the death of that gen- 
tleman, soon after which a new alliance was entered into be- 
tween Dr. James and Dr. Chapman, which, as an ultimate 
result, led to the introduction of both of them to the halls of 
the University. 

In 1807 the Obstetrical department of the Pennsylvania 
Hospital went into operation, intended for the accommodation 

' These gentlemen, in 1803, requested permission to give a course of lec- 
tures on Midwifery, in one of the rooms of the University, which was 
granted. In 1804 a similar request was made by Drs. Dewees and Chap- 
man. It was, however, deemed inexpedient to introduce private lectures, 
and this request was declined, with that of Drs. James and Church, to 
repeat their course. 

^ A Memoir of Thomas C. James, M. D., read before the College of 
Physicians of Philadelphia, by Hugh L. Hodge, M. D., Professor of Ob- 
stetrics in the University of Pennsylvania, 1843. 

^ A similar origin of Hospitals for Lying-in "Women may be referred to 
in England. Dr. Ei chard Manningham, in the year 1737, established a 
ward, or small hospital, in the Parochial Infirmary of St. James, West- 
minster, for the reception of parturient women only, which was the first 
thing of the kind effected in the British dominions. In this ward, which 
was supported by public subscription, he gave lectures, and the students 
had opportunities of being qualified for practice. He published a "Com- 
pendium Artis Obstetricae," and other works. (8ee Denman's Historical 
Introduction to his " Treatise on Midwifery.") 



THE UNIVEKSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 157 

of poor respectable married women. Singular as it may ap- 
pear, it was founded by the gallant and patriotic young gentle- 
men of Philadelphia, who formed the "Fwst Troop of City 
Cavalry^ Their pay for services due them by the Government 
at the end of the Kevolutionary war was generously donated 
for this especial purpose. The interest of the sum thus appro- 
priated amounted annually to between five and six hundred 
dollars.^ At the time of opening these wards, Dr. James was 
elected Accoucheur of the Hospital, and continued in of&ce 
until 1832. 

Dr. James did little as a writer; he read papers occasionally 
upon obstetrical cases, or kindred subjects, before the College 
of Physicians, of which he was elected the fourth President in 
1835. As one of the editors of the " Eclectic Eepertory," he 
contributed to its success by his industry in selecting materials 
for publication, as well as by his pen as a -journalist;"^ but no 
elaborate work upon his especial branch was attempted by 
him, and he contented himself most modestly with editing 
"Burns' Principles of Midwifery," and "Merriman's Synopsis," 
which were published as text-books for the students attending 
his lectures. He died in 1835.^ 

In 1835 the Chair of Materia Medica and Pharmacy be- 
came vacant by resolution of the Board of Trustees. From 
the year 1819 this professorship had been held by Dr. Coxe. 

Dr. John Eedman Coxe was born in New Jersey, in 1773, and 
was educated in Philadelphia under the charge of his grand- 
father, Dr. Eedman, until his tenth year, when he went to 
England and remained until his seventeenth year. In Edin- 
burgh he completed his classical education, and attended a 
course of medical lectures at the University of that city. In 
1790 he returned to America, and after studying medicine 

1 The first intention of the Trustees of this fund was to establish a 
Foundling Institution. From this they were diverted by the arguments of 
the Managers of the Hospital, and determined, in the application of the 
money, to found an Obstetrical Ward. (See Records of the First Troop 
Philadelphia City Cavalry, and Minutes of Pennsylvania Hospital.) 

^ The " Eclectic Repertory," conducted by an Association of Physicians, 
was begun in 1811, and terminated in 1820. 

^ In the "Lives of Eminent American Physicians and Surgeons," is 
cue of Dr. James, by Caspar INIorris, M. D. 



158 MEDICAL DEPAETME.NT OF 

regularly with Dr. Eash, graduated at the University of Penn- 
sylvania in 1794. The subject of his Thesis was Inflammation. 
He witnessed the epidemic yellow fever of 1793, while a student 
of medicine. After graduation, Dr. Coxe again visited Europe, 
and remained a pupil of the London Hospital for one year; he 
subsequently studied in Edinburgh and Paris, and returned to 
Philadelphia in 1796. 

In 1797 Dr. Coxe served as one of the resident physicians of 
Bush Hill Hospital, under the charge of Drs. Physick and 
Cathrall, when, as Dr. Bell informs us, there were only twenty- 
three or twenty-four physicians who remained at their posts in 
this epidemic, and eight of their number died.^ 

Dr. Coxe was appointed, by the Board of Health, Physician 
of the Port in 1798, the period of another great visitation of 
yellow fever. He was likewise, for several years, Physician of 
the Philadelphia Dispensary, and of the Pennsylvania Hospi- 
tal. He v^ras, at the commencement of the present century, an 
earnest, enthusiastic advocate of vaccination. After vaccinating 
his oldest child, then an infant, at the time the full efficacy of 
the practice was still in suspense in the public mind, he fully 
tested it by exposing him to the influence of smallpox. The 
result of this, then bold experiment, contributed in no small 
degree to establish reliance on the protective power of vaccina- 
tion,^ 

It has been stated above that Dr. Coxe succeeded Dr. Wood- 
house in the Chair of Chemistry in 1809, and that he was trans- 
ferred to that of Materia Medica and Pharmacy in 1819. He 
was possessed of considerable classical attainments, and was 
well versed in the ancient literature of Medicine. The doctrines 
and opinions of the earlier fathers of Physic had so superior 
a value in his estimation as to lead to too exclusive an exposi- 
tion of them in his lectures. This was more particularly the 
case when occupying the Chair of Materia Medica and Phar- 
macy; but the merit is due him of opposing the extended 
assumption of the doctrines of solidism that prevailed, and of 
giving proper significance to the facts of the humoral physio- 
logy and pathology, which were gaining ground from the com- 

* Life of Dr. Physick, by Dr. Bell, in Gross's "Lives," &c. 
2 Dr. Edward Jenner Coxe, tlie eldest sou of Dr. Coxe, underwent this 
experiment in 1801. 



THE UXIVEESITY OF PEXXSYLVANIA. 159 

mencement of the present centur}?-, and are now fully admitted. 
He insisted upon the correctness of the doctrine of the absorp- 
tion of medicinal substances, and upon the explanation, by it, 
of their mochis operandi. 

Dr. Coxe at one time was the editor of the "Medical Museum." 
This periodical was commenced in 1804; the same year as the 
publication of Dr. Barton, and was continued regularly until 
1811. It may be said to be the first uniformly issued periodi- 
cal in the city of Philadelphia, but not in the United States, as, 
in this respect, the city of New York takes precedence.' 

He published, as editor, the "American Dispensatory," a 
work largely derived from Duncan's "Edinburgh Dispen- 
sator\^" In 1808 he published a Medical Dictionary. Late 
in life he issued an " Exposition of the Works of Hippocrates," 
and an " Essay on the Orgin of the Discovery of the Circulation 
of the Blood." In 1829 he introduced, and succeeded in culti- 
vating, the true Jalap plant, thus enabling Mr. Nuttall to deter- 
mine its real character and position. Dr. Coxe died at the 
advanced age of ninety years, March 22, 1864. 

The vacation of the Chair of Materia Medica and Phar- 
macy having taken place in 1835, an opportunity was "offered 
to the Trustees to extend the organization and augment the 
ef&ciency of the Faculty, without interfering with the rights of 
the existing Professors, or increasing the expense of the pupils. 
That the subjects of Practice and Institutes of Medicine, which 
had for many years been combined, were together too copious 
for the time and powers of one Professor, was obvious to all 
who were acquainted with their great importance, and with the 

' The " Medical Repository" of I^ew York was projected by Dr. Eliliu 
Smith, assisted by Drs. Samuel L. Mitchell and Edward Miller, and issued 
in 1797. With reference to this periodical, the biographer of Dr. Miller, 
his brother, the Rev. Dr. Miller, remarks : "From this work, as a parent 
stock, have sprung a number of works of a similar kind in Europe and 
America. It is not recollected by the writer of these sheets that any 
periodical publication devoted to medicine and medical philosophy, that 
could be said to be of the same nature with the 'Medical Repository,' had 
ever before appeared," " The ' Medical and Physical Journal of London' 
was commenced soon after the appearance of the ' Medical Repository,' with 
the avowal of the Editor that he took the hint from New York." The 
extent to which medical journalism has been carried in subsequent years 
is known to every reader. 



160 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

vast extension recently given to the single science of Pathology. 
The necessity of their separation had indeed been recognized 
in the appointment of an assistant to the Professor who occu- 
pied the united Chairs. This appointment, however, was 
merely provisional. To give their due relative weight to the 
two branches, and to secure permanently adequate instruction 
in each, it was necessary to establish a new professorship. The 
Trustees accordingly decided that the Institutes of Medicine 
should form the ground of a new Chair."^ No new creation 
took place in this arrangement, for it will be recollected that 
the Chair of Institutes and Clinical Medicine existed when a 
union of the Faculties of the two schools took place in 1791. 
With the election of Dr. Kush to the Chair of Practice in 1805, 
the subjects of both chairs were apportioned to one, and thus 
continued for thirty years, when a separation became expe- 
dient. The necessity of separation of the two branches, and of 
the revival of the original professorships, had been urged upon 
the Trustees in 1823, and again in 1826, by the Medical 
Faculty. Ai the beginning of the session of 1827, Dr. Jackson, 
with the sanction of the Board, had received the appointment 
of Assistant, and on Dec. 2, 1828, had been elected by the 
Trustees the Assistant Professor to that position. 

On the 6th of October, 1835, Dr. Greorge B. Wood was elected 
to the vacant Professorship of Materia Medica and Pharmacy, 
and, at the same time. Dr. Samuel Jackson was elected Pro- 
fessor of the Institutes of Medicine. 

In November, 1835, the health of Dr. Dewees, which had 
been much impaired by age and laborious occupation, com- 
pletely failed, and after the course of lectures had commenced, 
he was forced to resign, and was succeeded by Dr. Hugh L. 
Hodge, on whom the duty devolved of completing the course, 
and who was on the 14th of the same month elected to the 
Chair of Obstetrics. 

The connection of Dr. Dewees with Obstetrics constitutes an 
epoch in the history of American Medicine. He was the first 
authoritative writer on this branch whom the country has pro- 
duced, and wielded, at the time when his personal influence 

' Sketch of the History of the Medical Department of the University, 
issued in 1841, in connection with tlie Catalogue. 



THE UXIYERSITY OF PEXXSYLVANIA. 161 

was unbounded, a sway over the opinions of his contemporaries 
and pupils which directed their practice and controlled their 
actions. He may truly be regarded as the Father of American 
Obstetrics. 

TVilliam Potts Dewees was a native of Pennsylvania; his 
family being of Scottish origin. He was born in the year 
1768. As his family were not in affluent circumstances, in his 
youth he had to contend with difficulties in obtaining an edu- 
cation, and to make amends for the want of extensive means of 
intellectual training by industry and perseverance in the use 
of such as were within his reach. 

He determined early to study medicine, and was for this 
purpose placed by his father in the establishment of Dr. Phyle, 
a practising apothecary. Under the superintendence of this 
gentleman he acquired a knowledge of pharmacy and its col- 
lateral sciences. He subsequently entered the office of Dr. 
William Smith, and during his continuance in this position 
and residence in Philadelphia attended lectures in the Univer- 
sity. In 1789, at the age of twenty-one years, he took the 
degree of Bachelor of Medicine. 

The early professional life of Dr. Dewees was spent in the 
country, at Abington, a settlement to the north of the city. 
The appearance of the yellow fever, in 1793, having thinned 
the ranks of the profession in Philadelphia, Dr. Dewees was 
induced to remove thither in December of that year. He 
entered upon his new field of duty with the confidence, and, it 
may be stated, under the patronage of Dr. Push. His asso- 
ciates and competitors for medical practice at the time were 
Drs. Physick and James, who had just returned from their 
sojourn abroad. It was at a period of need in the important 
branch of obstetrics that Dr. Dewees located himself as a 
practitioner among the citizens of Philadelphia. Its condi- 
tion was not flattering, as has already been mentioned. Dr. 
Hodge informs us that "at that period the science was 
hardly known in America. The physicians who occasion- 
ally engaged in its practice had received no instruction, with 
the exception of a few, who, having visited Europe, brought 
home a general knowledge of the subject, but who, from the 
prejudices existing against the employment of male practi- 
11 



162 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

tioners, had few opportunities and fewer inducements to per- 
fect their knowledge. Hence midwifery existed almost uni- 
versally as an art; the aged and imbecile nurse was preferred 
to the physician." It has been seen that only so far as taught 
by Dr. Shippen, and as a mere appendage to the Chair of Ana- 
tomy and Surgery, from which it received necessarily but little 
attention, it was comparatively ignored in the medical school 
as a branch of scientific education. Medical men, therefore, 
who desired to become adepts in it were under the necessity 
of visiting Europe, or of relying upon their own resources. To 
supply the demand for skilful and intelligent assistance in the 
conduct of labor. Dr. Dewees, with James, Church, and others, 
directed their attention to this branch, and by rendering them- 
selves especially masters of it, were enabled to communicate 
their knowledge and experience to others. 

JSTo one could realize more fully than Dr. Dewees the want 
of more extensive and ef&cient instruction on the subject of 
practical midwifery, and, to use the words of Dr. Hodge, " we 
find that he has the high honor of first attempting a /w?? course 
of Lectures on Obstetrics in America.^ 

"In a small office he collected a few pupils, and in a familiar 
manner indoctrinated them with the principles of our science^ 
toiling year after year, in opposition to the prejudices not only 
of the community but even of the profession, who could not 
perceive that so much effort was necessary for facilitating the 
natural process of parturition."^ In 1806, Dr. Dewees took the 

' An Eulogium on William P. Dewees, M. D., delivered before the medi- 
cal students of the University of Pennsylvania, Nov. 5, 1842, by Hugh L. 
Hodge, M. D., Professor of Obstetrics, &c. 

2 Keference has been made to the efforts of Dr. Shippen in the early part 
of his career. Dr. Bond advertised instruction in obstetrics at the Penn- 
sylvania Hospital, under date of October 25, 1781, in connection with his 
Clinical Lectures. We find in the American Daily Advertiser the an- 
nouncement of a course, entitled "Anatomical, Chirurgical, and Obstetri- 
cal Lectures," by Dr. John Foulke, October 25, 1790. 

A course of private lectures was delivered by Dr. Benjamin Duffleld. 
The advertisement of the commencement of this undertaking is as follows : 
" Dr. B. Duffield's Introduction to his summer Course of Midwifery Lec- 
tures will be delivered this day, at Mr. Charles Little's School House, at 6 
o'clock in the evening. April 6th, 1793." Dr. Church was a relative of 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 163 

degree of Doctor of Medicine, his thesis on this occasion was 
on "The Means of Moderating or Believing Pain during Par- 
turition." This essay was afterwards expanded and published 
as a book, which added to the reputation of the author.^ 

When, in 1810, it was determined to erect Midwifery to an 
independent position in the University, Dr. Dewees became a 
candidate for the Chair. The struggle, we are told, was "a 
warm one, and the claims of opposing candidates and the influ- 
ence of their respective friends rendered the event doubtful. 
The strong claims of Dr. Dewees, his talents, his industry, his 
attainments, his dexterity, boldness, decision, and judgment as 
a practitioner; his great success in the practice of his art; his 
popularity, supported by the strongest testimonials from many 
of the distinguished men in the profession, including Drs. Push 
and Physick, were met by aualogons claims of Drs. James and 
Chapman,"^ The result has been already stated. 

In 1812, Dr. Dewees, under the apprehension of a pulmonary 
affection, retired from the profession and became a farmer. 
This change did not result to his pecuniary advantage, and he 
returned to Philadelphia in 1817. In 1825 he was elected to 
the position of Adjunct Professor of Obstetrics. He had then 
passed the meridian of life, he was fifty-seven years of age, but 
his constitution was firm and his energy untiring. In this 
secondary post he remained until 1834, when he was elected to 
the Professorship. He delivered but one course of lectures in 
this position. On the commencement of the second course his 
health broke down from paralysis, and his retirement became 
expedient, both for himself and the school. 

Dr. Dewees was a voluminous writer; but his best book is 
his first, his " Compendious System of Midwifery." Although 

Dr. Duffield, and became liis successor, to be assisted by Dr. James, as 
has been stated. 

Dr. Hodge does not state the year that Dr. Dewees commenced to teach 
Midwifery. He settled in Philadelphia in 1793, and hence the probability 
is that his lectures were after those of Dr. Duffield, and contemporary with 
those of Church and James. 

1 It is stated that when Dr. Shippen read this Essay, he remarked "that 
had he previously been acquainted with the information contained in it, 
how much suffering would have been spared to his patients." 

2 Hodge's Eulogium. 



16-4 MEDICAL DEPAETMEKT OF 

not the m\st original treatise upon the subject in this country^ 
it attracted the attention of European writers to American au- 
thorship.^ lit deviated from the principles of the English 
authorities, land, while resting upon those of Baudelocque, who 
was the exponent of the French school of obstetrics, presented 
so much of original thought and observation as to bestow a 
high reputation upon the author. ''To an American, there- 
fore, the appearance of Dr. Dewees's work on Midwifery is an 
important epoch in the history of our science, as being the 
first regular attempt to think for ourselves on Tokology, and 
to contribute to the onward progress of this important division 
of Medical Science."^ 

After spending a few years in the Southern States, with a 
view to the restoration of his health, Dr. Dewees returned to 
Philadelphia, where he died on May 20th, 1841. 

When Dr. Dewees resigned in 1835, the Faculty stood as 

follows: — 

Practice of Medicine and Clini- ) ^^ ^ , ^ ^ 

. Tyr -.. . V Nathaniel Chapman, M.D. 

Chemistry ... Eobert Haee, M.D. 

Surgery .... William Gibson, M.D. 

Anatomy .... William E. Horner, M.D. 

Institutes of Medicine . Samuel Jackson, M.D. 

Materia Medica and Pharmacy George B. Wood, M.D. 

Obstetrics and Diseases of Wo- ] ^^^^ j^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ 

men and Children, . ) 

' Pnblislied in 1826. In 1828, three editions had already been issued. A 
Compendium of Midwifery was published by Dr. John Bard, of New York, 
about the beginning of the present century. A second edition appeared in 
1811. In speaking of this work Dr. James remarks : " It contains a large 
mass of practical knowledge compressed into a small space, and to me it 
appears as one of the best introductory books that can be placed in the 
hands of the student." (MS. Introductory Lecture, 1810.) 

2 Hodge's Eulogium. 

The other works of Dr. Dewees were a "Treatise on the Diseases of 
Females," one on the "Diseases of Children," and his "Practice of 
Medicine." His papers on various subjects may be found in the journals. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PEXN"SYLyAXIA. 165 



CHAPTER XIY. 

Ecsignation of Dr. Hare — Sketch of Ms life — Election of Dr. James B. 
Rogers to the Chair of Chemistry — Change in the lecture term — Resig- 
nation of Dr. Chapman — Sketch of his life — Election of Dr. Wood to the 
Chair of Practice, and of Dr. Carson to that of Materia Medica and Phar- 
macy. 

Feo:\[ the period last mentioned until tlie year 1847, no change 
took place in the Faculty. Dr. Hare then resigned the Profes- 
sorship of Chemistry, to which he had been appointed in 1819. 
He had been in possession of the Chair twenty-seven years. 

Dr. Robert Hare was born in the city of Philadelphia in 
1731. After finishing his academic education, he devoted 
some time to the occupation of a brewer, in the establishment 
of his father, in which his active mind was engaged upon the 
chemistry of the manufacture of malt liquors, and of their pre- 
servation. While engaged in this business, a barrel was in- 
vented by him, partly of iron, for the purpose of resisting the 
pressure from an extra accumulation of carbonic acid gas. At 
the age of twenty he entered the Chemical School of the Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania, where, in association with Dr. Benja- 
min Silliman, he pursued his studies under the direction of 
Woodhouse. 

With reference to that period, Dr. Silliman writes thus in 
1809: "When I was appointed to the Chymical Chair of this 
College (Yale) I was allowed time and opportunities to qualify 
myself for a station, for which those who appointed me knew I 
was not at the time prepared. I went to Philadelphia, and 
was so fortunate as to board in the same house with Mr. Hare. 
My pursuits and his tastes led us to form a small laboratory, 
where we pursued Chymistry with much ardour. It is with 
pleasure that I say that I am greatly indebted to the able 
assistance and instruction which I received from Mr. Hare at 
that time, for any progress I made in the Science. 

"He had already become, from a great deal of private re- 



166 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

searcli, an experienced and able experimenter, and it is no 
disrespect to the memory of Dr. Woodhouse (whose opinion of 
Mr. Hare as a chymist and a man of science I know to have 
been extremely favourable) for me to add that I often derived 
from the conversation of Mr. Hare, at home, views of chymical 
science and explanations of chymical phenomena, which greatly 
aided my comprehension of the lectures, and even supplied 
deficiencies which may occur occasionally in the public philo- 
sophical discourses of the ablest men."^ 

In 1801 Dr. Hare contrived the Oxy-hydrogen Blowpipe, 
and was awarded the Eumford Medal of the " American Aca- 
demy of Arts and Sciences." "With respect to the discovery 
of the " Compound Blowpipe," it is well known that a claim 
has been set up in England, and upon this point the following 
testimony of Prof. Silliman is conclusive in placing the credit 
where it is deserved: "In December of the year 1801, Mr. 
Hare communicated to the Chymical Society of Philadelphia 
his discovery of a method of burning oxygen and hydrogen 
gases in a united stream, so as to produce a very intense heat. 

"In 1802 he published a memoir upon the subject, with an 
engraving of his apparatus, and he recited the effects of his 
instrument, some of which, in the degree of heat produced, 
surpassed anything before known. In 1802 and 1803 I was 
occupied with him in Philadelphia in prosecuting similar 
experiments on a more extended scale, and a communication 
was made to the Philosophical Society of Philadelphia. The 
Memoir was printed in the 'Transactions,'^ and Mr. Hare's 
original Memoir was reprinted in the 'Annals of Chymistry' of 
Paris, and in the 'Philosophical Magazine' of London. Mr. 
Murray, in his 'System of Chemistry,' has mentioned Mr. Hare's 
results in the fusion of the several earths, &c., and has given 
him credit for his discovery.^ 

"In one instance, while in Europe in 1806, at a public lec- 

' Letter from Professor Silliman to E. Bronson, Esq., Kew Hayen, 

June 15, 1809. 
2 Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, vol. vi. p. 99, 
' Dr. Hare repeated his experiments in the presence of Dr. Priestley (the 

discoverer of oxygen), and of Woodhouse, Silliman, and others. — SilU- 

man's Journal^ July, 1858. 



THE UNIVEESITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 167 

ture I saw some of them exhibited by a celebrated Professor' 
who mentioned Mr. Hare as the reputed author of the inven- 
tion. 

"In December, 1811, I instituted a course of experiments 
with Mr. Hare's Blowpipe, in which I melted lime and magne- 
sia, and a long list of the most refractory minerals, gems, and 
others, the greater part of which had never been melted before; 
and I supposed that I had decomposed lime, barytes, strontites, 
and magnesia, evolving their metallic bases, which burn in the 
air as fast as produced. I communicated a detailed account of 
my experiments to the Connecticut Academy of Arts and 
Sciences, who published it in their 'Transactions' in 1812. 
With their leave it was communicated to Dr. Bruce's 'Mineralo- 
gical Journal,' and was printed in the 4th number of that work. 
Hundreds of my pupils can testify that Mr. Hare's splendid 
experiments, and many others performed by his Blowpipe, fed 
by oxygen and hydrogen gases, have been for years past 
annually exhibited in my public courses of Chymistry in Yale 
College, and that the fusion of the earths, of rock crystals, gun 
flint, of the corundum gems, and many other very refractory 
substances, and the production of light beyond the brightness 
of the sun, have been familiar experiments in my laboratory. 
I have uniformly given Mr. Hare the credit of his invention, 
although my researches with his instrument had been pushed 
further than his own, and a good many new results added. 

"It is therefore with no small surprise that, in the ' Annales 
de Chimie et de Physique' for September, 1816, I found a trans- 
lation of a very elaborate Memoir from a scientific journal 
published at the Eoyal Institution in London, in which a full 
account is given of a very interesting series of experiments 
performed by means of Mr. Hare's instrument, or one on the 
same principle, but without any notice being taken of Mr. 
Hare's invention, or experiments, or mine ; and that the whole 
is exhibited as original. On a comparison of the Memoir in 
question with Mr. Hare's and my own, I find that very many 
of the results are identical, and all the new ones are derived 
from Mr. Hare's instrument with the following difference : In 
!Mr. Hare's the two gases were in distinct reservoirs, to prevent 
explosion. They were propelled by the pressure of a column 



168 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

of water, and were made to mingle just before the exit at a 
common orifice. In the English apparatus, the gases are both 
in one reservoir, and thej are propelled by their own elasticity, 
after a condensation by a syringe. Professor Clarke, of Cam- 
bridge University, the celebrated traveller, is the author of the 
Memoir in question, and we must presume that he was igno- 
rant of what had been done by Mr. Hare and myself, or he 
would candidly have adverted to the facts. 

" Measures have been taken to set the matter right in Eu- 
rope, but in the mean time whatever treatment the subject m-ay 
receive there, it is proper that the American public should 
know that Mr. Hare was the inventor of the instrument with 
which in Europe the}'- are now performing the most brilliant 
experiments, and that there are very few of the results hitherto 
obtained there by the use of it (and the publication of which 
has there excited great interest) which were not several years 
ago anticipated here, either by Mr. Hare or myself."^ 

It appears that, in consequence of no recognition being 
made of Dr. Hare's claims by Dr. Clarke, although a spirited 
protest was communicated to him. Dr. Hare entered into a full 
exposition of his discovery and a complete vindication of his 
rights before the scientific world, in "Silliman's Journal," vol. 2, 
1820. 

The injustice above referred to was not, however, universal 
in Europe. On the part of many gentlemen of high scientific 
character, the merit of the discovery was given to its rightful 
possessor. In 1813 the merit of the discovery was acknowledged 
by Dr. Hope, of Edinburgh, in the following language: "For 
the invention of this very ingenious machine we are indebted 
to Dr. Eobert Hare, of Philadelphia, a gentleman whose merits 
claim a distinguished rank among the most successful pro- 
moters of Chemistry in the United States of America."^ 
When it is recollected that this was spoken at a time that a 
bitter war existed between Great Britain and this country, we 
cannot but admire the spirit of scientific candor manifested, 

' Eclectic Repertory, vol. vi., July, 1819. 

2 A letter from Henry Brevoort, Esq., to John Hare Powell, Esq., dated 
New York, 1816. Mr. Brevoort was present at the lecture in which the 
above statement was made by Dr. Hope. 



THE UXIVEESITY OF PENXSYLYAXIA. 169 

elevated as it was above party feeling, or the causes of national 
animosity. 

The account of this great discovery from the pen of Dr. 
Chapman may not be superfluous in this connection: "Means 
of producing a sufficient degree of temperature to melt some of 
the metals and other refractory substances had long been de- 
sired by artists, and hitherto had fruitlessly engaged the atten- 
tion of chymists. At the suggestion of Mr. Hare, the Chymical 
Society selected this subject as worthy of examination, and he 
was appointed to manage the investigation of it. The result 
of his labors was a discovery which has emphatically been pro- 
nounced by a great chjaiiist of Europe to be one of the most 
important of the eighteenth century."^ 

From the foregoing exposition of the discoveries of Dr. Hare 
and Professor Silliman, made with the instrument of the former, 
we may judge of the originality of the "Drummond Light," 
which is only an application of lime to the flame of the com- 
pound blowpipe, the intensity of the light under these circum- 
stances being perfectly familiar to these distinguished chemists, 
and annually shown to their classes before any practical appli- 
cation was made of it. 

On the death of Dr. TVoodhouse in 1809, Dr. Hare pre- 
sented himself as a candidate for the Chair of Chemistry, but 
was unsuccessful in his application. Soon after he was chosen 
"Professor of Natural Philosophy for the Medical Depart- 
ment ;" but as that position gave no status in the Faculty, he 
soon accepted the appointment of Chemical Professor in Wil- 
liam and Mary College, at Williamsburgh, Virginia, where he 
continued until his election to the University of Pennsylvania. 
In 1816 the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine was con- 
ferred upon him by Harvard University. 

As a lecturer Dr. Hare was remarkable for the scale of his 
experiments, which were uniformly successful, and impressed 
the mind by their grandeur. His apparatus was elaborate, and 
perfect so far as mechanical skill and ingenuity could accom- 
plish its completion. In galvanism and electricity he invented 

' Letter from Dr. Cbapman to Joseph Hopkinson, Esq. Testimonials 
submitted to the Trustees of the University, in 1809, by Dr. Hare. 



170 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

instruments wTiich far exceeded those familiar to tbe scientific 
world, and produced results before unknown. His Calorimotor, 
so named from the facility of generating an immense amount 
of heat, was described in "Silliman's Journal" in 1820.^ 

Two years later he promulgated, through the medium of 
the "Philadelphia Journal of Medical and Physical Sciences," 
a new theory of galvanism, accompanied by descriptions of 
some new modifications of galvanic apparatus. A modifica- 
tion of his apparatus was termed Dr. Hare's Deflagrator.^ 
With respect to it we quote the statement of Dr. Silliman: 
"It is not less a proof of the merits of Dr. Hare's apparatus 
that Professor Faraday, in 1835, after having exhausted his 
ingenuity and experience in perfecting the voltaic battery, 
found that Dr. Hare had already, nearly twenty years before, 
accomplished all that he had attempted, and with a noble 
frankness, worthy of all praise, he at once adopted Dr. Hare's 
instrument, as embodying the best results then possible." Its 
power was sufficient to fuse platinum, with the production of 
a brilliant light. 

He also contrived an improved Gasometer, a Eudiometer, a 
Litrometer, a Hydrostatic Blowpipe, an apparatus for freezing 
water by the use of sulphuric acid, a single leaf Electroscope, 
and numerous smaller improvements in chemical instruments. 
The description of his working apparatus, employed in his lec- 
tures, was given in his "Compendium," a book which, originat- 
ing in a mere outline or syllabus, was, at the time he left the Uni- 
versity, enlarged to a bulky volume. 

Dr. Hare was exceedingly fond of discussing the philoso- 
phical bearings of the branch of science which occupied the 
attention of his lifetime, and occasionally promulgated his 
views in a controversial way in the journals. He thought for 
himself, and was not unfrequently in disagreement with Ber- 
zelius and other prominent chemists of Europe of the time. 
One subject which much occupied his attention, and gave rise 

• Vol. 1, pp. 274. 

2 The voltaic pile of numerous pairs produces electrical and but little or 
no calorific effect. Large surfaces in one to four pairs produce great calo- 
rific and but little electrical efi'ect. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 171 

to discussion on his part, was the "Salt Radical Theory T A 
number of his papers were contributed to the pages of the 
"American Journal of Pharmacy." Some of these refer to the 
especial subjects to which that journal is devoted, and others 
were upon nomenclature and more general topics. Although 
Dr. Hare was not regularly bred to the medical profession, and 
belonged more especially to that class which may be termed 
philosophical chemists, yet his mind was directed by his asso- 
ciations to improvements in medicine and its several branches ; 
hence it will be found that he endeavored by his experiments 
to promote the advance of medical science. The preparations 
of opium, the ethers, and other medicinal articles, were the 
subjects of investigation and of suggestions in their formation 
which were eminently useful. Pharmacy is indebted to him 
for the method of denarcotizing laudanum ; and to Toxicology 
he gave the method of determining minute quantities of opium 
in solution. In the latter years of his life Meteorology occu- 
pied much of his attention. 

The apparatus w^hich Dr. Hare had collected, the greater 
part of which had been invented by himself, was given to the 
Smithsonian Institution, at Washington, when he resigned his 
professorship, and it is deeply to be regretted that the entire 
collection was destroyed by the fire which laid a portion of 
that noble structure in ruins. 

Dr. Hare died on May 15, 1858, at the age of seventy-seven 
years. He was succeeded by Dr. James B. Kogers. 

The session of 1847-48 was marked by an alteration in the 
lecture term. Until 1836, it had for a long period in the annals 
of the school been limited to four months; from that time it 
was gradually lengthened by the voluntary labors of a portion 
of the professors. The University is entitled to the credit of 
having taken the initiative step in this matter. At a meeting of 
the Faculty, December 31, 1835, it was "resolved that it was 
expedient to add another month to the Lectures of the Medical 
Department." In 1836, at the commencement of the session, 
the proposition of the Faculty was acceded to by the class, and 
the lectures for a time were continued into March. At a sub- 
sequent date preliminary lectures were delivered in October. 
At the meeting of the National Medical Association in May, 



\ 



172 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

1847, a strong and decided recommendation to lengthen the 
term of lectures in the schools was adopted by that body. To 
this the University heartily responded by an extension of the 
term to six months, and this was maintained for a number of 
years, when the modifications subsequently made were rendered 
necessary by the refusal of concurrence on the part of other 
leading schools. In 1853, the College term was fixed by com- 
mencing the course on the second Monday of October, and 
continuing it to the first of March. The recent introduction 
of a Supplementary Faculty supplies the defect, which was 
legislated upon by the Association, and extends the teaching 
period in the Medical Department to nearly eight months, 
without additional expense to the student. This provision for 
additional instruction will again be presented in its appro- 
priate place. 

In 1850, Dr. Chapman resigned the Chair of Practice, which 
he had so eminently filled during the long period of thirty-four 
years. 

He was born in Fairfax County, Yirginia, in • 1778. His 
father was George Chapman, of English ancestry, while his 
mother's descent was Scotch. He was educated at the Classical 
Academy of Alexandria, and commenced the study of medi- 
cine with Dr. Weems, of Georgetown, from whom he was 
transferred to Dr. Dick, of Alexandria, whose name has been 
handed down in connection with the last hours of Washington. 
In 1797 he came to Philadelphia to attend the lectures in the 
University, and entered the office of Dr. Eush.^ He gradu- 
ated in 1800 ; his thesis was upon Hydrophobia. 

Upon the completion of his studies at the University Dr. 
Chapman went abroad, and in London attended the teachings, 
among others, of the celebrated surgeon, Mr. Abernethy. He 
afterwards spent some time in Edinburgh, and returning to the 
United States settled himself in Philadelphia, in 1804. Yery 
•soon after his return from Europe he gave a private course on 

' A Memoir of Nathaniel Chapman, M. D., by John Biddle, M. D. 
Lives of Eminent American Physicians and Surgeons. This Memoir con- 
tains fvTller details of Dr. Chapman's career than any that has been pub- 
lished. It is partly based upon an autograph account of himself by Dr. 
Chapman, furnished to his relative, Dr. Biddle. 



THE UXIYERSITY OF PEXXSYLVANIA. 173 

Obstetrics, and his success in this line led to tlie association 
with Dr. James, which ultimately brought them under the/ 
winoj of the medical school. ', 

Having succeeded Dr. Barton in the<Jhair of Materia Medica, 
in 1813, Dr. Chapman was fortunate in maintaining the interest 
that had attached to that important branch; not by Natural His- 
tory, or even strictly pharmacological expositions, but by lumi- 
nous explanations of the scope and purposes of the Materia 
Medica — of its proper application to the cure of disease. In his 
prelections upon this subject he was especially happy, pointing 
out in detail the appropriate use qf each particular article, and 
illustrating his remarks by sound appeals to his abundant ex- 
perience; indeed, his instruction partook so much of a clinical 
nature, and placed so much valuable practical information at the 
command of the student, that it could not but fix the attention 
of the latter, if solicitous to prepare himself for the responsible 
duties of his profession. In this Chair he laid the foundation of 
that eminence he attained when called upon again to succeed Dr. 
Barton, and assume the responsibilities of the Chair of Practical 
Medicine. His ''Elements of the Materia Medica," published 
in 1817, contain the exemplification of his manner of communi- 
cating useful suggestions and practical directions for the employ- 
ment of medicinal articles. With reference to this work we may 
appropriately quote the comment of one qualified to express an 
opinion. In the account of the contributions to this branch of 
medicine by American phj^siciaus, Dr. Wood uses the following 
language: "Hitherto we had done little more than add to the 
products of the European press our peculiar knowledge in rela- 
tion to indigenous medicines. Dr. Chapman took a bolder flight, 
and by the publication of a systematic and original treatise, 
containing elaborate doctrine, interesting practical views, and 
highly important therapeutical facts of a general character 
placed us at once upon a footing with English authorship in 
this department of medicine.'" 

In 1816 Dr. Chapman received his appointment as Professor 
of the Theory and Practice of Medicine, of Institutes, and Clini- 

1 Introductory Lecture to the Course of ^lateria Medica, iu the Univer- 
sity of Pennsylvania, by George B. Wood, M. D., 1840. 



174 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

cal Medicine in the University. A part of the course of 1815-16 
had devolved upon him. His first efforts to teach the Practice 
of Medicine were decidedly successful; to this, testimony is 
given by Dr. Coxe, in a letter to Dr. Norcum, of North Carolina, 
dated May 29, 1818, wherein he says, referring to Dr. Chap- 
man : " His lectures now for three successive courses have 
been well received, and have each year been improved by his 
more immediate interest in their perfection." With respect to 
the performance of the duties of this Chair as it reflected upon 
his position in the profession, we must agree with the language 
of one of his biographers, "that he filled it for more than the 
third of a century with distinguished success, and left it with 
a national reputation."^ 

At the time of his accession to the Professorship, Dr. Chap- 
man had not attained his thirty-seventh year, and had not 
been settled in Philadelphia as a practitioner more than twelve 
years. In allusion to the transfer to the " highest position of 
honor and trust then known to the medical profession," Dr. 
Jackson remarks: "In undertaking the duties of this Chair, 
difl&culties were to be encountered that do not beset it in ordi- 
nary circumstances. His abilities as a teacher, his knowledge 
and acquirements as a sound and practical physician, were now 
to be severely tested." 

" The first duty devolving on Dr. Chapman on assuming his 
new Chair was to settle the plan of his course. A large body 
of our physicians had been educated in the doctrines of Kush, 
and they were popular. The old fabric of methodic medicine 
had been razed to the ground by the assaults of Brown and 
Eush, while the views and doctrines they had attempted to 
establish Dr. Chapman had been compelled to abandon as- 
unreal, from the results of his own experience and researches. 
Medicine, at that time, was at a halt. All the facts that could 
be known, by the then available mearus of research and inves- 
tigation, were exhausted. Nothing new could be expected 
from them, and all the attempts to work them into a consistent 
theory had proved miserable abortions." 

" Dr. Chapman had no pretensions to be a reformer, that he 

* Life of Dr. Chapman, by Dr. Biddle, sup. cit. 



THE UXIVEESITY OF PEXNSYLVANIA. 175 

could change the character of Medicine, or that, by the means 
at his command as a practising physician, he could elevate it 
from its position as a highly cultivated art, to a lofty science. 
At this time General Anatomy was unknown. Pathological 
Anatomy had revealed only the grosser alterations of the 
organs. Physiology shed no illuminating ray on Pathology 
and Practice. Pathology was almost entirel}'- conjectural; 
Chemistry was incapable of solving the actions of living 
beings, and the attempts made were deceptions; while the 
microscope had not poured forth its revelations of minute and 
elementary structure. What could be done, under these cir- 
cumstances, but to collect together the most perfect portions of 
the wreck of the methodical system, Avhich, in reality, were the 
embodied experience and tested facts of centuries of practical 
observation, and to rearrange and reconstruct them into sys- 
tematic order. By this plan he could, in the most effective 
manner, accomplish the main object of his Chair, the teaching 
of the best practical methods of treating and curing diseases, 
and of educating for society sound medical practitioners."^ 

There were two prominent features in the medical teaching 
of Dr. Chapman, who was a thorough solidist and vitalist. 
The first was his advocacy of the doctrine of association be- 
tween the organs and systems of the body in health and dis- 
ease; the agency of their associated actions being due to "sym- 
pathy" or consent of parts. This doctrine will be found to be 
recognized in some form or other through the writings of the 
most celebrated physicians of all time ; but the details of its 
expression were indefinite and vague, and it was not even 
admitted that the nervous system was necessary for the harmo- 
nious operations of the organs and tissues, for the performance 
of uniform functional acts; and hence sympathies were spoken 
of, for want of a more appropriate term, beyond the limits of 
those now admitted. 

Cullen, in his speculations with respect to the agency of the 
nervous system, had recognized the controlling influence of it 

' A Discourse commemorative of Nathaniel Chapman, M. D., &c., de- 
livered before the Trustees, Medical Faculty, and Students of the Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania, by Samuel Jackson, M. D., Professor of the 
Institutes of Medicine, Oct. 13, 1854. 



176 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

upon tlie operations of the several organs of the body, and was 
disposed to attribute the effects of medicines to the operation 
of sympathy. In the elaborate exposition of his doctrines 
by his biographer, Dr. Thomson, we are informed that he 
was aware of the consensual operation of organs through the 
medium of the nervous system. It was known that sensation 
and motor power belonged to the nerves, and through them 
the brain issued its mandates. It was supposed that the gan- 
glionic system controlled the functions of organs, and presided 
over nutrition ; but with all the exercise of ingenuity of Robert 
Whytt, of Unzer and of Prochaska, of John Hunter and Bichat, 
nothing had been accomplished towards the development of the 
true doctrine of sympathy, the determination of the specific 
functions of the individual nerves, and the agency which 
special portions of the brain and spinal system exert over 
them. 

The advocacy of pure vitalism, and of the predominance of 
sympathetic association in the vital operations of the economy, 
with a dependence for their activity upon the nervous system, 
characterized the school of Montpellier, first in the teachings 
of Bordeu, and more particularly in the writings of Barthez. 
The latter author separated the sympathies into general and 
particular. To the general were referred associations which 
exist between the organs to maintain their functions (synergies), 
as well as mechanical and functional relations.^ A particidar 
sympathy, he conceived, is shown to exist between two organs 
"whenever an affection of one occasions sensibly and frequently 
a corresponding affection of the other, without its being possi- 
ble to refer the succession of affections to casual coincidence, to 
the mechanical action of one organ upon another, or to the 
synergy or co-operation of several organs in the performance of 
some particular function, or in the production of some disturb- 
ance of the living body. Such sympathy ought not less to be 
recognized, although it cannot be submitted to constant and 
general laws; and we are unable to state in what way the 
modification of an organ primarily affected is necessary for the 
production of such sympathetic effect ; why the sympathy of two 

^ Nouveanx Elemens de la Science de rHomme. Paris, 1806. Seconde 
edition, torn. ii. p. 2. 



THE UXIVEKSITY OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 177 

organs is not always reciprocal; why the sympathetic effect is 
not perpetual, as it ought to be, if the causes of sympathy were 
mechanical; and why an organ is not affected directly by an 
irritant cause, in the same way that it is by sympathy from 
the impression made by this cause upon another organ." ^ 

At the commencement of the present century, when the pre- 
ceding indefinite propositions were written, the functions of 
particular nerves and of the different portions of the nervous 
centres were unknown. The discovery of the motor and sen- 
sitive columns of the spinal marrow first lifted the veil which 
concealed the secret machinery of nervous action, and led to 
the only philosophical method of experimenting — the study of 
the nerves separately in their functional relations. 

It is to be inferred that Dr. Chapman derived his ideas of 
S}' mpathy from the writings of Cullen, and of the professors of 
the French school who have been mentioned, and he adhered to 
them to the termination of his career, during which revelation 
upon revelation was made in this line of research. By the 
investigations of Sir Charles Bell, Magendie, Flourens, Miiller, 
Hall, Bernard, Brown-Sequard, and others, sympathy from a 
mythical condition has assumed a tangible form for the enlight- 
enment and guidance of practitioners of medicine and surgery. 
The error committed by Dr. Chapman was the rejection of the 
proof of an introduction into the circulation of medicinal or 
noxious substances, which has now become irrefragable, and 
constitutes, in great measure, the foundation of modern medicine. 

The second peculiarity of Dr. Chapman's teaching was the 
prominent part attributed to the stomach in connection with 
numerous diseases; indeed, the "fons et origo" of a large num- 
ber of them. He, however, was not a maintainer of the opinion 
that gastric derangement was uniformly inflammatory; and in 
this he differed from Broussais, but he fully recognized the 
stomach as a ruling power in the maintenance of disease, and 
in directing the means for its removal.^ In this particular he 

' Op. citat., vol. ii. p. 3. 

2 The gastric origin of fevnr was csppcially insisted on by Dr. Chapman, 

the fever itself being sympathetic. This doctrine is an old one. In the 

■work of Dr. Carrie reference is made to Henry Screta, who early in the 

eighteenth century revived the opinion of Diodes, attributing all fevers to 

12 



178 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

most probably, while in London, was seriously impressed by 
the opinions and practice of Abernethy, which are as worthy 
of commendation at the present time as they were when first 
urged upon the profession by that wise and skilful surgeon. 
Therapeutics were essentially Dr. Chapman's forte, and in this 
line, from his ready and abundant resources, he was a master. 

In 1820 Dr. Chapman became the proprietor and editor of the 
"Philadelphia Journal of the Medical and Physical Sciences." 
In 1825 he was assisted in conducting it by Dr. Dewees and Dr. 
John D. Godman. This periodical, in 1827, became the "Ameri- 
can Journal of the Medical Sciences," and has been continued to 
the present time under the able editorship of Dr. Isaac Hays. 

During his lifetime Dr. Chapman furnished some lectures to 
the "Medical Examiner," and a few others were printed in book 
form. 

The truth of the following character of Dr. Chapman, as a 
lecturer, in the eulogy of his colleague, Dr. Jackson, must be 
accepted by all who have listened to his public efforts : " He 
was self-possessed, deliberate, and emphatic. Whenever warmed 
with his subject, his animation became oratorical. Often the 
tedium of dry matter would be enlivened by some stroke of 
wit, or happy pun, an anecdote, or quotation.^ He was fur- 
nished with stores of facts and cases, drawn from his own large 
experience and observation, illustrating principles, diseases, or 
treatment under discussion. His bearing was dignified, man- 
inflammation of the viscera. In 1789 it was taught by Dr. Francis Eiollay, 
in his " Critical Introduction to the Study of Fevers." Dr. Edward Mil- 
ler, who in 1807 was elected the Professor of Practice in the University 
of New York, embraced the doctrine of the sympathetic nature of febrile 
disease. It forms a prominent peculiarity of his works, which were pub- 
lished in 1814, and has been referred to by Broussais with commendation. 
See Medical Works of Edward Miller, M.D,, and North American Medi- 
cal and Surgical Journal, vol. v. p. 128. 

' The readiness of Dr. Chapman in repartee may be illustrated by the 
following, in connection with the election of a colleague : When Dr. Dor- 
sey was chosen to succeed Dr. Wistar, he was much gratified and elated at 
the prospect presented him of distinction in the Chair of Anatomy. Ex- 
pressing himself enthusiastically with reference to his hope of acquiring 
reputation in that branch, Dr. Chapman remarked that this had already 
been accomplished, as a muscle had been named after him, the '■'■ Latissi- 
mu3 Dom." 



THE UXIVERSITY OF PENXSYLVANIA. 179 

ners eas}', and gestures graceful. He had a thorougli command 
over the attention of his chass, with whom he always possessed 
unbounded popularity. His voice had a peculiar intonation, 
depending upon some defect in the conformation of the palate, 
and rendered the articulation of some words an effort. The 
first time he was heard the ear experienced some difficulty in 
distinguishing his words. This was of short duration; for one 
accustomed to the tone, his enunciation was remarkable for its 
distinctness. Students would often take notes of his lectures 
nearly verbatim." 

Dr. Chapman died July 1st, 1853, and was buried on the 
4th, the birth day of American Independence. 

The resignation of the Professorship of Practice by Dr. Chap- 
man, in 1850, was followed in May by the transfer to it of Dr. 
Wood. His election to the Chair of Materia Medica, in 1835, 
had been productive of new interest in that branch, in conse- 
quence of its being made, as it should be, a demonstrative one 
in each science pertaining to it.^ In his hands the Chair of 
Practice became as eminently demonstrative ; he richly endowed 
it with the materials for teaching, and into every department 
of this varied subject introduced appropriate illustrations in 
the form of drawings of pathological lesions of the organs, 
casts and models of disease, apparatus, and an extensive range 
of pathological preparations. 

In June, 1850, the vacant Professorship of Materia ^Fedica 
and Pharmacy was filled hy the appointment of Dr. Joseph 
Carson. 

' In afldition to the creation of an admirable cabinet of drawings and 
specimens illustrative of the Materia Medica, Dr. Wood erected a spacious 
greenhouse, in connection with a garden, for the preservation and collec- 
tion of medicinal plants. The lectures were thus rendered more interest- 
ing from the exhibition of living plants. 

The works of Dr. Wood are, the "United States Dispensatory," in con- 
junction with Dr. Franklin Bache ; "A Treatise on the Practice of Medi- 
cine ;" ''A Treatise on Therapeutics and Pharmacology," and a volume 
of Essays. 



180 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 



CHAPTEE XY. 

Death of Dr. James B. Rogers — Sketch of his life — Election of Dr. Robert 
E. Rogers to the Chair of Chemistry — Death of Dr. Horner — Sketch of 
his life — Election of Dr. Leidy to the Chair of Anatomy — Resignation of 
Dr. Gibson — Sketch of his Life — Election of Dr. Henry H. Smith to 
the Professorship of Surgery — Resignation of Dr. Wood — Election of 
Dr. Pepper to the Chair of Practice — Resignation of Dr. Jackson and of 
Dr. Hodge — Election of Dr. F. G. Smith to the Chair of Institutes, and 
of Dr. Penrose to that of Obstetrics — Resignation of Dr. Pepper and 
his decease — Sketch of his life— Election of Dr. A. Stille to Chair of 
Practice — Supplementary Course of Lectures. 

During the summer of 1852 the University sustained the 
loss by death of Dr. Kogers. 

James B. Eogers was born in 1803, in the city of Philadel- 
phia; but as his father, Dr. Patrick Kerr Eogers, had been 
appointed to succeed Dr. Hare as Professor of Chemistry and 
Natural Philosophy in William and Mary College, Virginia, 
he received his collegiate education in that institution. He 
studied medicine in Baltimore, and graduated, in 1822, at the 
University of Maryland, at the time the reputation of that 
school was sustained by the names of Potter, Davidge, Baker, 
and De Butts. He wrote a thesis upon Epilepsy. 

After graduation. Dr. Eogers commenced the practice of 
medicine in Harford County, Maryland, but he soon abandoned 
the occupation of a country practitioner, and became the super- 
intendent of the chemical works of Messrs. Tyson & Ellicott, in 
Baltimore. While engaged in this business he accepted the 
Chair of Chemistry in the Washington Medical College, of that 
city, and at the same time lectured in the Mechanics' Institute. 
In 1835 he accepted the position of Professor of Chemistry in 
the Medical Department of the Cincinnati College, where he 
was associated with Drs. Drake, Gross, Parker, Cobb, and Har- 
rison. During the four years of labor in that field, he devoted 
the summer season to the assistance of his brother, Professor 



THE UXIVERSITY OF FENNSYLVAN-IA. 18 i 

"William B. Rogers, in the geological survey of the State of 
Virginia. He had at this time the honor of being appointed 
by the Government melter and refiner of the Mint at New Or- 
leans, a post which he, however, declined. 

In 18-iO Dr. Rogers settled himself in his native city, and was 
engaged with his brother, Henry D. Rogers, upon the geological 
survey of the State of Pennsylvania. The following year he 
succeeded Professor John K. Mitchell in the Medical Institute of 
Philadelphia. This institution was a summer school for teach- 
ing the branches of medicine, and having been founded by Dr. 
Chapman was closely associated with the University. When 
Dr. Hare resigned the Professorship of Chemistry, Dr. Rogers 
became an applicant for this important position. The canvass 
was a spirited one; the candidates were numerous and promi- 
nent; Rogers had secured to himself the earnest wishes in 
his behalf and the partialities of the profession of Philadelphia, 
who best knew the qualifications desirable for a medical 
teacher, and he became the successor of the same individual 
to whom his father had succeeded twenty -eight years previ- 
ously, at William and Mary College. From this sole incident 
how gratifying a result! 

Dr. Rogers was a popular teacher; the full store-house of his 
mind was drawn upon to instruct his pupils, and no pains or 
labor did he spare to make easy to their comprehension the 
important truths he taught. In one portion of his course he 
was especially interesting ; this was organic chemistry. Of 
late years it has become a prominent departnient of medical 
science, and, from the success with which it has been culti- 
vated, will become ultimately so interwoven with medicine 
as to require a large share of attention :^om medical stu- 
dents. Physiology and pathology are not the only branches 
to which organic chemistry is essential ; therapeutics is gra- 
dually becoming amenable to its disclosures. The develop- 
ment of the mode of action of medicines to which organic 
chemistry has led has dissipated much uncertainty, and ex- 
plained many phenomena which, although seen, were not un- 
derstood. By demonstrating the importance of researches upon 
the subject, and creating an interest in them, Dr. Rogers be- 
stowed important -service, and it was apparent that, in its 



182 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

reaction upon other branches; his mode of teaching materially 
aided the exertions of his associates. His career was of short 
duration; after his fourth course of lectures it was closed, with 
the regrets of all who had been connected with him.^ 

He was succeeded by his brother. Dr. Eobert E. Eogers, 
August, 1852. 

By the decease of Dr. Horner, in the spring of 1853, the 
Chair of Anatomy became vacant. 

Dr. William Edmonds Horner was a native of Yir ovinia, and 
Avas educated first at the academy of Mr. Charles 0'!N"eill, at 
Warrenton, and afterwards at Dumfries. Upon the comple- 
tion of his academic studies, in 1809, he commenced to study 
medicine under the direction of Dr. John Spence, a Scotch 
physician, educated at Edinburgh. He continued the pupil of 
Dr. Spence nntil 1812, and during this period attended two 
sessions of the University of Pennsylvania. Anaton>y was the 
branch that more particularly interested him, and for which 
he manifested the most decided partiality. 

In July, 1813, while an under-graduate, he entered the Uni- 
ted States army as a surgeon's-mate, and performed his first 
military duty upon the northern frontier. In this suborbinate 
capacity he continued to serve until the conclusion of peace 
with Great Britain, in 1815, when he resigned. Of his adven- 
tures during this campaign he kept an interesting record, and 
published a series of papers, detailing his observations and 
experience, in the Medical Examiner of Philadelphia, as late 
as 1852, the year before his death. During the winter of 
1813-14, having obtained a furlough, he attended the lectures 
in the University preparatory to his graduation, which took 
place in April, 1814. The thesis written by him was on 
" Gunshot Wounds^ 

Upon resigning from the Army in 1815, after a brief sojourn 
in the village of Warrenton, his native place. Dr. Horner set- 
tled in Philadelphia; and here located, as we are informed by 
his biographer, " his enthusiasm for anatomy, his earnest appli- 

' Memoir of the Life and Cliaracter of James B. Rogers, M. D., Profes- 
sor of Chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania, by Joseph Carson, 
M. D., Professor of Materia Meclica and Pharmacy ; delivered at the request 
of the Faculty, on October 11th, 1853. Published by the Class. 



THE UXIVERSITY OF FEXXSYLVAXIA. 1S3 

cation to dissection, bis quiet demeanor, bis steadiness of cba- 
racter, tbe neatness and elegance of bis preparations, bad 
attracted tbe notice of Prof. AYistar, and gained Ins friendsbip, 
confidence, and esteem."^ In tbe spring of 1816 an arrange- 
ment was made witb Dr. Wistar, by wbicb Dr. Ilorner became 
bis assistant in tbe anatomical course, preparing tbe subject for 
demonstration. By tbis association " tbe demonstrations of tbe 
anatomical course were fuller and more complete tban tbey 
had been previously, and tbe Anatomical Museum was rapidly 
increased by numerous specimens and preparations, particu- 
larly of fine injections, as well as important patbological illus- 
trations. He worked most assiduously, for it was a work of 
love." 

Upon tbe deatb of Dr. Wistar in 1818, be engaged witb Dr. 
Dorsey as bis assistant, and wben tbat Professor was stricken 
down, at tbe very opening of bis course, tbe engagement was 
renewed witb Dr. Pbysick, wbo undertook tbe labor of deliver- 
ing the anatomical lectures in addition to bis own on Surgery. 
"The course of 1818-19 was completed in a manner bigbly 
satisfactory to Dr. Pbysick and tbe class. Tbe assiduity and 
zeal of Dr. Horner, and tbe excellence of bis demonstrations, 
by lightening tbe labor of tbe course, and facilitating its pro- 
gress, contributed in no small degree to tbe result."^ In 1820, 
Dr. Horner was elected, as has been stated. Adjunct Professor 
of Anatomy, and upon tbe resignation of Dr. Pbysick, in 1831, 
became tbe Professor. 

"As a lecturer. Dr. Horner was not fluent or copious in lan- 
guage, nor bad any pretensions to elocution. His plan, to a 
certain extent, was novel. He composed a text-book, bis 
^Special Anatomy,' wbicb was a complete but concise treatise 
on Anatomy. It was written in strict reference to tbe course 
of study in the University of Pennsylvania, and was kept in 
as compendious a state as possible, so that there sbould be no 
unnecessary loss of time in reading it. This book was, in fact, 

' A Discourse commemorative of the late William E. Horner, M. D., 
Professor of Anatomy, delivered before the Faculty and Students of the 
University of Pennsylvania, October 10, 18o3, b}- Samuel Jackson, M.D., 
Professor of the Institutes of Medicine. 

' Ibid. 



184 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OP 

his lectures. In the lecture-room he confined himself chiefly 
to the demonstrations of the text of his work, by dissections, 
preparations, drawings, and models."^ Dr. Jackson further 
remarks, wdth respect to this plan : " On the value of the 
method there will be different opinions, but it is certain that 
he made good anatomists. I have frequently heard students 
declare, that plain, simple, and unadorned as were the lectures 
of Dr. Horner, that they had learned anatomy better from him 
than from any others they had heard lecture on that branch." 

"The Anatomical Museum of the University, founded,. as 
has been narrated, by Dr. Wistar, is an evidence of the great 
anatomical skill and untiring application of Dr. Horner. A 
very large portion of it, upwards of two-thirds at the time of 
his death, and containing most of its finest preparations, rival- 
ling those of the best anatomical museums of Europe, was the 
result of his labors. Dr. Horner, from time to time, presented 
the preparations he had made to the University, which was 
acknowledged by the Board of Trustees, but on his death he 
bequeathed an extensive collection, together will all his instru- 
ments and apparatus connected with dissections, to the Medical 
Department." The Trustees have, in consequence of this libe- 
ral bequest, bestowed on the collection thus constituted, the 
name of the " Wistar and Horner Museum." 

Dr. Horner is entitled to credit as an original observer. He 
determined the existence of a special muscle, situated on the 
posterior surface of the lachrymal duct and sac, which solved 
the difficulty of explanation as to the mode by which the tears 
were conveyed into the nose. He named the muscle tensor 
tarsi. Its existence has been verified by anatomists in this 
country and in Europe, where it has been called "Musculus 
Horneri." 

He also first detected the fact that in cholera the whole of 
the epithelium was stripped from the small intestines, and 
hence the turbid rice-water dejections in that disease." This he 
did by making a minute injection of the mucous membrane, 
and then examining it by the microscope under water. The 
paper announcing this discovery was published in the " Ameri- 

' Dr. Jackson's Discourse, &c., p. 35. 



THE UXIVERSITY OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 185 

can Journal of the Medical Sciences" in 1835. Two years sub- 
sequently the same was published in the "Presse ^ledicale" 
of Paris, but without allusion to the American anatomist. 

In 1852 Dr. Horner resigned the Deanship of the ^ledical 
Department, which is worthy of notice from the fact that he 
had held that important executive office for thirty 3'ears, and, 
in addition to his professorial labors, faithfully fulfilled its 
requirements. Prior to the assumption of the duties of this 
office by Dr. Horner, they were performed in rotation by the 
Professors. With him it became a permanent position, and 
has thus continued with advantasfe to the interests of the 

o 

^ledical Department. Dr. Horner twice visited Europe, first 
in the early part of his career, and again in 1848, when he 
journeyed for the sake of recuperation from his labors; but 
his health from this period rapidly declined. He died on the 
18th of ^larch, 1853, of extensive disease of the heart. 

To the vacant Professorship Dr. Joseph Leidy was elected 
in May, 1853. 

In 1855, Dr. Gibson resigned his Professorship of Surgery. 
This Chair he had held for thirty-six years. He was appointed 
Emeritus Professor of Surgery by the Trustees. 

Dr. William Gibson was born in Baltimore, Maryland, 
March 14, 1788, and received his early education in that city, 
and at St. John's College, Annapolis. He subsequently went 
to Princeton College, and remained during the session of 1803-4, 
leaving the Institution before the time that his class graduated. 
He commenced the study of medicine with. Dr. John Owen, of 
Baltimore, and in 1806 attended a course of lectures in the 
University of Pennsylvania. He himself tells us that upon his 
arrival in Philadelphia he heard the first public lecture he 
ever listened to. "It was from my distinguished predecessor, 
the late Dr. Physick. Struck with the peculiar appearance of 
that extraordinary man, and with the precepts he poured forth, 
my attention was riveted to every action he displayed, and 
every word that fell from his lips."^ 

' Lecture Introductory to the Course on tlie Principles and Practice of 
Surgery in the University of Pennsylvania. Delivered Nov. 1, 18U, by 
AVilliam Gibson, M. D. 



186 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

At the close of the lectures he sailed for Europe, and first 
repaired to Edinburgh, where he spent the summer in witness- 
ing the private practice and operations of the celebrated John 
Bell, then in the zenith of his fame — in attending botanical and 
natural history lectures, and in devoting particular attention 
to hospital practice.^ 

He graduated at the University of Edinburgh in 1809, hav- 
ing written a thesis, entitled, " De Forma Ossium Grentillium." 
The materials for this inaugural Latin dissertation were ob- 
tained from the museum of Monro. It was descriptive of the 
different forms of the bones pertaining to the races of mankind, 
and has been quoted by Pritchard and other writers in connec- 
tion with their ethnological researches. The science of ethno- 
logy was at that time almost in its infancy. 

On a journey from Edinburgh to London, he formed an 
acquaintance with a brother of Sir John Moore, commander of 
the British army in Spain, who was killed at the battle of 
Corunna, and received from this gentleman such testimonials as 
enabled him to procure the means of witnessing, " in an unoflQ.- 
cial capacity," after the arrival of the wounded in England, 
the important cases of gunshot wounds, and other similar inju- 
ries, which occurred at that battle. It is probable that Dr. 
Gibson was thus first brought into close association with Sir 
Charles Bell, who was at the time a practitioner of surgery in 
London, and who had been detailed to assist in the care of the 
wounded soldiers. He entered, as a private pupil, the family 
of Sir Charles Bell, and with his taste for artistic delineations, 
had ample opportunities for improvement under the direction 
of so consummate a teacher.^ In 1809 there was a galaxy of 
distinguished medical men, at the height of their reputation, in 
London, of whom Dr. Gibson has mentioned Mr. Abernethy 
and Sir Astley Cooper as conducing to his improvement by 
their interesting lectures.^ 

1 Ibid. 

2 See Life of Sir Charles Bell, in Chambers' Dictionary of the Lives of 
Celebrated Scotchmen. 

The system of " Operative Surgery" of Sir Charles Bell was published 
in 1807. The results of his experience in gunshot wounds was published 
as an appendix. 

^ Litroduct. Lect., cit. 



THE UXIYEESITY OF PEXXSYLYAXIA, 187 

After his return home in 1810, after three years' absence, 
Dr. Gibson entered upon the practice of his profession in Bal- 
timore, and two years afterwards was appointed to the Chair 
of Surgery in the University of Maryland. This Institution 
had recently been established, and in it he was associated with 
Drs. David^e. Potter, Baker, De Butts, and Hall. In 1814 he 
served as a medical officer in the militia of Maryland, at the 
time of the attack of the British on Baltimore. Upon the 
death of Dr. Dorsey, when Dr. Physick was transferred to the 
Chair of Anatomy in the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Gib- 
son was elected to fill the vacant Chair of Surgery. The elec- 
tion took place in September, 1819. 

It would be no small praise to state that Dr. Gibson fully 
sustained the reputation he'brought with him from the Univer- 
sity of Maryland, in the new position to which he had been 
called as the successor of Dr. Phj^sick, the founder and illus- 
trator of the Chair of Surgery in the University of Pennsyl- 
vania. As a lecturer he was clear and emphatic; his voice 
was distinct and melodious; his language was well chosen, and 
his style of enunciation was attractive. His demonstrations of 
surgical anatomy were readily comprehended by the student ; 
some of them especially, as those in connection with the neck, 
with hernia, and with lithotomy, could not be surpassed in 
lucid exposition. For purposes of demonstration, Dr. Gibson 
had himself prepared, and procured by purchase, an ample 
collection of morbid structures, diseased and fractured bones, 
models and casts, as well as pictures of large size, illustrative 
of disease, or of the anatomical parts of the body involved in 
operations.^ To these were added the approved mechanical 
appliances of the day. In thus teaching he set the example 
that has been followed extensively by other surgeons. 

As an operator Dr. Gibson was undoubtedly dexterous; of 
his operations and cases, a number were from time to time 
communicated to the Journals. In the treatment of fracture 
of the thigh, he placed before the notice of practitioners of 
this country a modification of the apparatus known as Hage- 

' Some of these illustrations were painted bj^ himself, and others by Mr. 
Sull}' and other artists. 



188 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

dorn's; and published a case that had been treated by it in the 
" Journal of Medical and Physical Sciences."^ A remarkable cir- 
cumstance in the surgical practice of Dr. Gibson was the per- 
formance of the operation of Csesarean section twice successfully 
on the same individual. The details of the two operations 
have been published separately by Dr. Joseph G. Nancrede 
and Dr. George Fox, in the "American Journal of the Medical 
Sciences."^ 

Dr. Gibson published, in 1824, his lastitutes and Practice of 
Surgery, being " Outlines of a Course of Lectures." This work 
was intended as a guide to the students attending his lectures, 
and is marked for its accuracy of style and language. It 
passed through six editions, having been amended and im- 
proved; the last edition of 1811 being so enlarged as to con- 
stitute a respectable treatise on Surgery. He published, in 
1836, a paper entitled, "A Sketch of Lithotripsy, with Cases ;"^ 
and in 1841 was published his "Eambles in Europe in 1839, 
with Sketches of Prominent Surgeons and Physicians, Medical 
Schools, Hospitals, Literary Personages, Scenery, &c." The 
sketches it contains are graphic and spirited. In 1847 Dr. 
Gibson again visited Europe, and for several successive years 
delivered occasionally to the class a lecture devoted especially 
to his observations and inquiries. 

He died at Savannah, Georgia, on the 2d of March, 1868, 
aged eighty years. 

Dr. Henry H. Smith was elected to the Professorship of Sur- 
gery, May, 1855. 

In 1860 Dr. Wood resigned the Professorship of the Theory 
and Practice of Medicine, and was appointed Emeritus Pro- 
fessor ; he was succeeded by Dr. William Pepper. In 1863 
Dr. Wood was chosen a Trustee of the Universitj^ 

' No. VL, page 231. 

2 Observations on the C^esarean Operation, accompanied by tlie Eelation 
of a Case in -wliicli both Mother and Child were preserved. By Joseph G. 
Nancrede, M. D. — Amer. Journ. of the Medical Sciences, Aug. 1835, vol. 
xvi. 

Account of a Case in which the Csesarean Section, performed by Prof. 
Gibson, was a second time successful in saving both Mother and Child. 
By George Fox, M. D. — Amer. Journ. of the Medical Sciences, May, 1838, 
vol. xxii. 

^ American Journal of the Medical Sciences, Aug. 1836. 



THE UXIVEESITY OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 189 

The next changes that occurred in the School resulted from 
the resignation of Drs. Jackson and Hodge in 1863. Dr. Jack- 
son had been thirty-six years in connection with the Medical 
Department of the University, and to the last day of his public 
career was an eminently distinguished and useful teacher of his 
branch.' Dr. Hodge had occupied his position twenty-seven 
years, with the reputation of an admirably practical lecturer.^ 
The Chair of Institutes was filled by the election of Dr. Francis 
Gurney Smith, and that of Obstetrics by the election of Dr. R. 
A. F. Penrose. The dignity of Emeritus Professors of these 
several branches was bestowed on Drs. Jackson and Hodge on 
their resignations being accepted by the Trustees. 

In the spring of 1861:, Dr. Pepper resigned his professorship 
in consequence of ill health. 

He was a native of Philadelphia, having been born in 1810. 
After his collegiate studies at Princeton College, where he 
graduated with the first honors of his class in 1828, he entered 
the of&ce of Dr. Thomas T. Hewson, who, in his capacity of 
private preceptor, was excelled by none of his contemporaries.^ 
Dr. Pepper graduated at the University in 1832, the subject of 
his thesis being Apoplexy. After receiving his medical edu- 
cation, he spent two years in Europe, more especially engaged 
in studying disease in the great hospitals of Paris. Upon his 
return to ^iladelphia he ardently devoted himself to the prac- 
tice of his profession ; for three years was one of the physicians 
of the Dispensary, and in 181:1 was chosen one of the physi- 
cians of the Pennsylvania Hospital. He soon acquired the 
reputation of a sound medical practitioner. 

The strong feature of Dr. Pepper's medical character was the 
possession of analytical acumen and decided ideas of diagnosis. 
This he carried into his of&ce of a teacher. " As a didactic 
lecturer he was clear, concise, and complete. Thirty years of 

' Dr. Jackson publislied, in 1832, his "Principles of Medicine," He was 
a liberal contributor to the Journals. 

2 Dr. Hodge published, in 1860, a ^ork "On Diseases Peculiar to 
Women, including Displacements of the Uterus," and in 1864, his trea- 
tise, entitled, "The Principles and Practice of Obstetrics." 

^ Dr. Hewson, for a number of years, held the position of Professor of 
Comparative Anatomy in the University. See ante. 



190 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

active practice had made liim familiar with disease in its varied 
forms, and had led him to reject as useless that which was 
merely speculative in medicine, while it enabled him to speak 
with authority of all that was valuable in our science. 
Thoroughly familiar with medical literature, he had also stu- 
died disease in the great book of nature, at the bedside in 
private practice, and in the wards of hospitals. Thus, to him, 
nearly every disease treated of presented itself in the form of 
individual cases which had come under his notice, or been 
under his immediate care. From this great treasury of know- 
ledge he continually drew in illustration of the subject matter 
of his lecture. Catching at the typical features of the disease, 
its pathological history and phenomena, its diagnosis, general 
and differential, were given with such clearness and force, that 
the student saw before him, as at the bedside, all that was dis- 
tinctive and important in the case; while the principles of 
treatment and its results followed with almost mathematical 
accuracy and precision." 

" Dr. Pepper made no effort at oratorical display. The main 
object of his teaching was apparent — to give a thoroughly 
practical course, one which, as far as possible, would prepare 
his pupils for the intelligent treatment of disease. His enuncia- 
tion was distinct, and his delivery rather a rapid than a slow 
one, No one could visit his lecture-room without 3bticing the 
marked attention of the class, nor be associated with the stu- 
dents without perceiving with what affectionate respect they 
regarded their preceptor." 

" It is a remarkable fact, and in keeping with what has 
already been noticed, that during the four years of his profes- 
sorship, a period the most exciting and important in our 
national history, notwithstanding the cares of a very large 
practice, and the infirmities of declining health, he was never 
absent from a lecture, and never failed to meet his class punc- 
tually at the time appointed for its delivery."^ 

The career of Dr. Pepper was short in connection with the 

' We have taken largely, in tliis notice, from tlie statements contained 
in the Biographical Memoir of the late Dr. William Pepper, M. D., by 
Thomas Kirkbricle, M, D., prepared by request of the College of Physicians 
of Philadelphia, 1866. 



THE UXIVEESITY OF PENNSYLVAXIA. 191 

University, but was so marked as to give promise of eminence 
and usefulness. Some papers were contributed by him to the 
periodical journals; they were few in number, but marked 
by excellent reflection and the spirit of inquiry, his long expe- 
rience in the Pennsylvania Hospital having placed ample 
material at his command. He died October 16, 1864. 

Upon the resignation of Dr. Pepper, Dr. Alfred Stille was 
elected, June 7, 1864, to the Professorship of the Theory and 
Practice of Medicine, and Clinical Medicine. 

In 1864: it was determined by the Board of Trustees of the 
University to institute an Accessory Course of Lectures to 
those delivered during the winter season, and on April 4, 1865, 
the subjoined report and resolutions were adopted : — 

"The Standing Committee on the Medical Department to 
whom was referred the subject of instituting additional lecture- 
ships in connection with that department, and the mode in 
which the lecturers should be compensated, respectfully report 
as follows: — 

"Whereas, the instruction as at present given in the Medical 
Department of the University, though as comprehensive as is 
consistent with self-support, does not embrace all the branches 
of knowledge specially subservient to Medicine, or closely con- 
nected with it ; and, 

" Whereas experience has shown that systematic instruction 
in these subordinate branches can be secured only through 
endowed lectureships, and 

"Whereas, finally, in our Institution, holding the rank of a 
University, the very name of which implies universality of 
instruction, it is highly desirable that provision should be 
made for teaching all the sciences an acquaintance with which 
is in a greater or less degree essential to a complete and tho- 
rough medical education; therefore 

"Eesolved, That a Faculty is hereby instituted in connec- 
tion with the Medical Department of the University of Pennsyl- 
vania, to be denominated the Auxiliary Faculty of Medicine, 
of which the several Professors shall receive a fixed salary, 
sufficient to serve as an inducement for competent persons to 
accept the position, yet insufficient to preclude exertion for its 
increase through the attendance of pupils. 



192 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

"The Faculty shall comprise five Professorships, of — 1, 
Zoology and Comparative Anatomy; 2, Botany; 8, Mineralogy 
and Greology; 4, Hygiene; 5, MedicalJurisprudence, including 
Toxicology. The occupants of these Chairs shall constitute 
the Members of the Auxiliary Faculty. It must be understood 
as essential in the fulfilment of the duties of these Chairs that 
the three branches of Natural History, forming the subjects of 
the three Professorships first mentioned, shall be taught mainly 
in reference to their medical relations, and in other respects 
only so far as may serve to give a general view of the subject 
whereby the several facts may be duly connected and arranged. 

" The Faculty shall appoint a Dean from among its mem- 
bers, whose duty it shall be to preside over and keep minutes 
of the meetings, and to perform all the executive functions that 
may be entrusted to him. 

"It shall have power to determine the time of lecturing of 
the several Professors, to fix the terms of admission to the lec- 
tures, which, however, shall be uniform for all, and shall not 
exceed ten dollars from each pupil for each Professor; to make 
rules for its own government; to regulate the common ex- 
penses; and to do whatever els6 is incidental to its constitu- 
tion^ every question being decided by a majority of the mem- 
bers present, provided they form a quorum. 

"The several courses shall consist of at least thirty-four 
lectures, to be delivered at hours fixed by the Faculty, three 
times a week, during the months of April, May, and June, 
com.mencing on the first Monday of April, and ending on the 
last Saturday of June. 

"They shall be given with the assent of the Medical Faculty 
in the Lecture Eooms of the building occupied by that Faculty, 
and it will be the duty of the Auxiliary Faculty to take care 
that the apartments appropriated to their use are kept in due 
order while occupied by them, and properly cleansed at the 
end of each course; and should this requisition be disregarded, 
the cost of supplying the deficiency shall be defrayed by a pro 
rata deduction from the salaries of the Professors. 

" At the end of the courses the Faculty shall hold an exami- 
nation, under such regulations as they may deem best, of the 
pupils who may have attended at least one full course of all 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVAXIA. 193 

the lectures and may apply for such examination, in order to 
decide on the proficiency of the pupils ; and should the deci- 
sion be favorable, a certificate to that effect shall be given to 
every successful candidate, for which the sum of two dollars 
and fifty cents may be demanded from each person receiv- 
ing it. 

'' The certificate shall be in such form as the Faculty may 
determine, to be approved by the Trustees ; and each certificate 
to a medical graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, or 
any other medical school on the ad eundem list, shall, under 
the sanction of the Board, receive the seal of the University 
and the signature of the Provost. 

" The Professors shall be appointed for one year, after public 
notice of at least three months, at the regular meeting of the 
Board in November next, nominations having been made at a 
preceding meeting, and shall be reappointed annually there- 
after during satisfactory service, at the regular meeting of the 
Board in the same month, so long as the plan for the establish- 
ment of the Auxiliary Faculty of Medicine now adopted shall 
continue in operation." 

In accordance with the above resolutions, on November 7th, 
1865, the following gentlemen were elected by the Board of 
Trustees to fill the several Chairs that had been created : — 

Harrison Allen, M. D., Professor of Zoology and Compara- 
tive Anatomy. 
Horatio C. Wood, M. D., Professor of Botany. 
F. Y. Haydex, M. D., Professor of Geology and Mineralogy. 
Henry Hartshorne, M. D., Professor of Hygiene. 
John J. Keese, M. D., Professor of Medical JurisjDrudence. 

AYith the addition above stated, the Medical Faculty of the 
University of Pennsylvania, as constituted January 1, 1869, is 
as follows : — 
George B. "Wood, M. D., LL.D., Emeritus Professor of Theory 

and Practice of Medicine. 
Samuel Jackson, M. D., Emeritus Professor of Institutes of 

Medicine. 
Hugh L. Hodge, M. D., Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and 

the Diseases of Women and Children. 

la 



194 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

Joseph Carson, M. D., Professor of Materia Medica and Phar- 
macy. 

EoBERT B. EoGERS, M. D., Professor of Chemistry. 

Joseph Leidy, M. D., Professor of Anatomy. 

Henry H. Smith, M. D., Professor of Surgery. 

Francis G. Smith, M.D., Professor of Institutes of Medicine. 

E. A. F. Penrose, M. D., Professor of Obstetrics and the Dis- 
eases of Women and Children. 

Alfred Stille, M.D., Professor of Theory and Practice of 
Medicine. 

D. Hayes Agnew, M. D,, Demonstrator of Anatomy, and As- 
sistant Lecturer on Chnical Surgery. 

Dr. Eobert E. Eogers holds the office of Dean. 

The first course of lectures by the Auxiliary Faculty was 

given in the spring of 1866, and was highly successful, there 

being about one hundred gentlemen in attendance. As a por- 
tion of the uniform regular instruction of the Medical School, 

the accessory course is now in full operation. 



THE UXIVEESITY OF PEXXSYLYAXIA. 195 



CHAPTER XVI. 
CLIXICAL IXSTRUCTIOX. 

It has been shown that clinical instruction was inaugurated 
in the Pennsylvania Hospital in 1766, by Dr. Bond, in connection 
with the establishment of the medical lectures of the College, 
At the time of the organization of the Medical Department, five 
of the physicians of the Hospital were Trustees of the College, 
and, well aware of the advantages of clinical teaching, they 
regarded the association of the two institutions as of the highest 
consequence to the success of the enterprise of establishing sys- 
tematic medical teaching in the city of Philadelphia. Anterior 
to 1800, eight of the professors engaged in conducting courses 
of lectures on the several branches of medicine taught in the 
College or University had successively been elected physicians 
or surgeons of the Hospital.^ The instruction in this institu- 
tion has been continued under the direction of medical pro- 
fessors, or of the physicians attached to it, to the present time, 
and has always been regarded as one of the privileges of 
students visiting Philadelphia.^ 

As far as we have been able to ascertain, the mode of con- 
ducting the instruction in the Pennsylvania Hospital in early 
times was at the bed-side of the patient; the physician, in 
making his stated rounds of the wards, selecting such cases as 
he deemed most interesting or instructive, and especially dwell- 
ing upon their nature and treatment. For a large class this 
plan of procedure was attended with its disadvantages; the 
confusion of a crowded apartment; the possibility of only a 

• See Appendix, G. 

2 Dr. Cakhvell, in his Autoljiograpliy, states that "Dr. Rush prescribed 
and lectured to his pupils in the Pennsylvania Hospital twice every week 
during the season of the medical school, which extended from the begin- 
ning of November to the close of February. This was in 1796-97." p. 264. 



196 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

limited number of students approaching the patient; the mani- 
fest danger of injury to those seriously ill who were the sub- 
ject of remarks, or in close proximity at the time of their 
delivery; and the inability on the part of the teacher to discuss 
and illustrate particular diseases in detail for want of classifi- 
cation, were reasons for the abandonment of this method, and 
of substituting for it that of presenting the proper subjects of 
disease before the class in the amphitheatre, which had been 
arranged for this purpose, and more especially for the peform- 
ance of surgical operations in public. 

To Dr. Benjamin H. Coates is the credit due of putting this 
method of demonstrating and of lecturing into operation in the 
Pennsylvania Hospital. He introduced it about the year 1884, 
and continued it afterwards during his connection with the in- 
stitution. Dr. Wood, who succeeded to the winter term, as 
senior physician, on the resignation of Dr. Coates, in 1841, 
pursued the same method, in which he was joined by the sur- 
geon. Dr. Eandolph. It has been continued ever since, and 
has been extended during the terms of service, throughout 
the year, of all the medical attendants. 

To another establishment must attention be directed as hav- 
ing conduced to the important purpose of training the younger 
members of the profession for their duties, and of affording 
facilities for instruction in clinical medicine. The Philadelphia 
Almshouse went into operation before the erection of the 
Pennsylvania Hospital, and the first physicians, of whose ap- 
pointment to minister to the relief of its inmates we have a 
record, were Drs. Thomas Bond and Oadwalader Evans. 

It is stated by Dr. Agnew, in his lecture on the Medical His- 
tory of the Almshouse,^ that we may claim for that Institution 
the establishment of the first obstetrical clinic. "Students of 
good character were allowed to attend cases of labor, and the 
various stages of the process were explained to them by Drs. 

' Lecture on the Medical History of the Philadelphia Almshouse ; de- 
livered at the opening of the Clinical Lectures, October 15, 1862, by Dr. 
D. Hayes Agnew, M. D. Published by request of the Board of Guardians. 
To this interesting and full account of that institution we are indebted 
for much of the information herein presented, where the Almshouse is 
alluded to. 



THE UXIVEESITY OF PEXXSYLYAXIA. 197 

Bond and Evans, under whose personal directions these instruc- 
tions were conducted as early as 1770, and, in all probability, 
much earlier, as may be inferred from the phraseology of the 
minutes touching this subject.^ 

"In 1772 a proposition was made to the managers to extend 
the usefulness of the house b}^ the admission of students, and 
an increase in the number of medical attendants. This propo- 
sition included an offer of gratuitous service, the institution 
being only at the expense of purchasing the medicines required 
for the sick." In March, 1774, an addition to the medical 
corps was effected by the election of Dr. Adam Kuhn, Dr. 
Benjamin Eush, Dr. Samuel Duffield (one of the first graduates 
of the College), Dr. Gerardus Clarkson, and Dr. Thomas Parke. 

It must not be supposed that a uniform course of clinical 
instruction has been conducted in the Almshouse from the 
period alluded to. On the contrary, it appears from the 
records that the instruction was fitful and irregular, depend- 
ing on a variety of circumstances, and much upon the opinions 
controlling the management with respect to its expediency, 
and hence we find that from time to time the admission of 
students was suspended. 

When, after the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British, 
who had forcibly occupied the buildings of the Almshouse, affairs 
assumed a more settled condition, the desire for clinical instruc- 
tion was rekindled. "In ISTovember, 1778, the subject was 
revived by the students present in the city. They presented a 
formal application to the physicians of the Almshouse for per- 
mission to witness the practice of the institution. Drs. Eogers 
and Leib waited on the Board of Managers in their behalf, and 
presented the importance of such a measure with much earnest- 
ness." The application was at first refused, and then granted, 
but either from hostility on the part of the direction, or from 
other causes, it was of little avail 

In 1788, Dr. Samuel P. Griflfitts and Dr. Caspar AYistar be- 
came physicians to the House, and, in 1789, Dr. William 
Shippen, Jr., was elected. At this time the proposition for 

' It is to be understood that this clinic was in a public institution. The 
private clinic of Dr. Shippen has been referred to in a previous chapter. 



198 MEDICAL DEPAKTMENT OF 

facilities of clinical teaching was renewed, but was not received 
with favor, and, in a short time afterwards, all of the physicians 
resigned. 

In 1795 Dr. Cummings again brought this vexed question 
to the notice of the managers, but ''the proposition was 
promptly rejected upon the ground of such publicity being 
calculated to do harm to the sick." 

In 1797 Dr. John Church and Thomas C.James were chosen 
medical officers. These gentlemen were subsequently asso- 
ciated in teaching Midwifery. " In 1803 Drs. James and 
Church proposed to attend the Lying-in Ward, on condition 
they should be allowed to have one private pupil present at 
each case of labor. The application was granted, and much 
valuable instruction was communicated in this responsible 
department of medicine." " The same year, on the 23d of 
March, Dr. Caldwell was allowed to introduce and instruct 
twenty, and afterwards forty students, during his stated visits 
to the medical wards, on the condition of his becoming respon- 
sible for their good deportment."^ 

"In November, 1805, through the efforts of Drs. James and 
Church, the Managers conceded the privilege to deliver clini- 
cal lectures to a class of students twice a week in the 'Green,' 
or 'Dead House,' during the winter season. Shortly after, 
Dr. Barton was permitted to give instruction to his class on the 
days of his regular attendance at the House. Every successive 
year now removed more and more the prejudices which had 
so long operated against the admission of medical students. 
The Managers were seized with an active desire to promote 
and foster a system which contributed so largely toward laying 
a solid foundation of medical usefulness." 

" Until October 25, 1805, no fee was demanded from those 
attending the instruction of the Institution, but, at the above 
date, a ticket was directed to be issued, signed by the Presi- 

1 Dr. Caldwell, in alluding to this in his autobiography, states : " The 
first course of clinical lectures in the Philadelphia Almshouse was delivered 
by myself, not long after the commencement of the present century, the 
precise year not being remembered (1803). I was then a member of the 
Faculty of that Institution, and continued my lectures annually for Several 
years, until deprived of my appointment in it on political grounds." 
p. 264. 



THE UXIVER3ITY OF PE^^NSYLVANIA. 199 

dent and Secretary of the Board of Guardians, at the price of 
eight dollars — two purchasing a perpetual privilege. The 
office pupils of the medical officers were free to attend without 
charge. In Kovember, 1807, Dr. James was delivering lec- 
tures still in the Green Room, and there the physicians con- 
tinued to give clinical instruction until 1811, when the sur- 
geons connected with the Almshouse asked for more suitable 
apartments in which operations could be performed, and thus 
remove from the ward a source of mischief to the other sick. 
To correct this evil, the Board had the building called the 
' Dye and Wash-House,' carried up an additional story, fitted 
up as a lecture-room, with two adjoining wards capable of 
holding each twenty or thirty patients ; and here were next 
delivered clinical lectures."^ 

"During 1813 the Managers, anxious to advance the reputa- 
tion and popularity of the house, were induced to tender to 
every student taking its ticket the privilege of attending a 
case of labor ; and to give the proposal greater publicity, it 
was by their authority announced in the public papers. 
This scheme of indiscriminate admission to the ward of the 
lying-in department brought out a minority protest." 

It appears that, by a rule of the house, a physician or sur- 
geon holding a position of a similar kind in the Pennsylvania 
Hospital was not eligible to office in it. To this reference was 
made in the same report, and the wisdom was urged of select- 
ing the " very best talent wherever found, and especially the 
propriety of seeking as many lecturers from the Medical School 
as possible." The views thus presented were received with 
favor, the discriminating rule was rescinded, and a cordial 

' The Almshouse building was located on the square bounded by Spruce 
and Pine and Tenth and Eleventh Streets. Across the centre of the lot, 
from east to west, was the addition made which served for the purposes 
specified. It made the south side of a quadrilateral ; the main building 
facing on Spruce Street, and on the sides extending back to the new erec- 
tion. In the centre was a hollow square, consisting of spacious courtyards 
on the sides, and a small garden between them. To the south of the entire 
building, as thus arranged, between it and Pine Street, was a vegetable 
garden. At one time the small garden was used by Dr. Wm. P. C. Barton 
for botanical purposes. In its centre was a summer-house that had been 
carried in the Federal Procession. 



200 MEDICAL DEPAETMEXT OF 

understanding entered into with tbe Hospital. On the part of 
the University, the spirit exhibited by the Board of Guardians 
was reciprocated, and on Nov. 15, 1815, the following modifi- 
cation of the rules was enacted by the Faculty, with the sanc- 
tion of the Trustees : — ■ 

" Eesolved, that so much of the Bye-Laws as requires the 
students of medicine to attend the Pennsylvania Hospital, 
during one session at least, be altered by inserting after the 
word Hospital, the words, 'or the City Almshouse.'" 

In 1822 we find three of the Professors of the University in 
connection with the clinic of the Almshouse, having as their 
associates some of the most promiaent members of the profes- 
sion, among whom was Dr. Jackson.^ It appears that upon the 
reorganization, at this period, of the Board of Physicians and 
Surgeons of that institution, the system was introduced of 
delivering the clinical lectures regularly on Wednesdays and 
Saturdays in the lecture-room. To this the patients could be 
conveniently taken, either from the adjacent wards, or, when 
proper, from those at a distance. Systematic instruction in 
clinical medicine in the institution, indeed, dates from that 
period. 

The importance of the Clinical School of the Almshouse to 
the interests of medicine, and the appreciation on the part of 
the students of the practical knowledge afibrded by it, may be 
inferred from the fact that in ten years, between 1815 and 
1825, eleven thousand one hundred and sixty dollars, in the 
form of fees of admission, had been received by the institu- 
tion.^ 

' In 1822 the Board of Physicians and Surgeons consisted of Drs. Chap- 
man, Gibson, Horner, Jackson, Joseph Klapp, J. K. Mitchell, Richard 
Harlan,'' J. V. O. Lawrence, and John Rhea Barton. Dr. Lawrence died 
that year, and was succeeded by Dr. Hugh L. Hodge. 

2 Report of the Clerk of the Almshouse to the Dean of the University — 
Minutes of the Faculty, May 14, 1823. This would give an average of 
139 students annually. In 1830 the number was 185, and in 1834 it was 
220. The pupils of both Schools, the University and Jefferson Medical 
College, were then in attendance. In 1835, Dr. Joseph Pan coast and Dr. 
Robley Dunglison, were members of the Medical Board of the Almshouse. 
It is to be recollected that the medical students in the city were divided 
between the two hospitals. 



THE UNIVEESITY OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 201 

In 1826 the Faculty applied to the Board of Trustees of the 
University for authority to employ an assistant to the Pro- 
fessor of Practice in the delivery of his clinical lectures, on the 
ground that the duties of the Chair were too onerous for a 
single individual.^ Whereupon it was resolved, "That the 
Professor of the Institutes and the Practice of Medicine have 
permission to employ an assistant in the performance of his 
duties at the Almshouse, in giving clinical lectures there 
during the present course, and no longer."^ 

In 1827, Dr. Jackson was chosen the Assistant to the Pro- 
fessor of Practice, Institutes, and Clinical Medicine, and from 
that time took an active part in conducting the clinics of the 
winter season, as well as in performing the duties devolving 
upon him during his own especial term. In 1832, Dr. Chap- 
man resigned his position as Physician of the Almshouse. 

The Legislature having passed the necessary law to enable 
the Board of Guardians of the Poor to erect new buildings for 
the accommodation of the indigent, this was carried into effect 
in 1830, and the Hospital Department, the first portion of the 
pile of buildings, afterwards completed on the west bank of the 
Schuylkill River, was in sufficient readiness upon the first 
visitation of the cholera, in 1832, to receive patients. The 
locality selected was at the time outside of the limits of the 
city, and in the district which was called Blockley; hence the 
title that was soon acquired of Blockley Hospital. Since the 
act of consolidation, as it has been technically called, by which 
the districts were united under the city government, the name 
of Philadelphia Hospital has been used to designate the estab- 
lishment. 

After the removal west of the Schuylkill, the nunibers of 
the students attending the clinical lectures fell off. In 1834 
measures were taken to secure their attendance and render it 
easy. Negotiations were entered into between the University 
and the Board of Guardians, and at a meeting of the Medical 
Faculty, held October 29th, it was 

' The duties performed by Dr. Chapman were daily lectures in the Uni- 
versity upon the Practice of Medicine, and two lectures additional a week 
in the Almshouse. He consequently lectured twice in succession on two 
days of the week. 

2 Minutes, Dec. 5, 1826. 



202 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

" Eesolved, That if tlie Guardians of the Poor will make ar- 
rangements to transport twice a week, for the four months 
directly ensuing, two hundred and twenty students to and from 
the Alms House to a convenient site in the city; should the 
number of students be less than that number, the Medical Fa- 
culty will pay to the Board the sum of three dollars upon each 
case of the deficiency." 

The proposition was accepted by the Board, and the students 
were conveyed in omnibuses. 

In 1838, Dr. William Grerhard was appointed an Assistant 
to Dr. Jackson. The services of Dr. Gerhard were so highly 
appreciated by the class attending the clinic of the Blockley 
Hospital in the winter of 1840 as to lead to a- series of resolu- 
tions expressive of approbation. 

In 1840 Dr. Gibson withdrew from the service of the Hos- 
pital, and was followed, in 1845, by Drs. Jackson and Horner.^ 

In 1841, the system of Dispensary Clinics was adopted by 
the University. The first that was instituted under its auspices 
was conducted by Dr. Gerhard and Dr. William P. Johnston, 
in the building of the Medical Institute, in Locust Street above 
Eleventh. It was there carried on until the commencement of 
the course of 1843, when it was transferred to the University 
building, under the immediate superintendence of the profes- 
sors, with the assistance of those gentlemen. From that time 
to the present this mode of practical instruction has constituted 
a part of the regular course of medical teaching conducted by 
the University.^ 

' For an account of tlie clianges wliicli subsequently occurred, and the 
policy pursued, we must refer to the pages of Dr. Agnew's Lecture ; it is 
sufficient here to remark, that, after a trial of various schemes for the man- 
agement of the institution, with the appointment of a chief resident physi- 
cian, and, in 1855, of special lecturers on medicine and surgery, there was 
a return, in 1859, to the original plan of a Board of Physicians and Sur- 
geons, upon whom devolved the care of the sick as well as the instruction 
of pupils. Attendance has been made free to all medical students, who, 
aided by the facilities of attendance afforded by the street cars, now freely 
avail themselves of the excellent clinical teaching conducted in the estab- 
lishment. See Appendix G. for list of the Professors who have served in 
the Almshouse. 

This method of clinical instruction was first adopted on the organiza- 
tion of the .Tefi'erson Medical College, in 1824, at its building in Prune 
Street. The history of that School has been written by Dr. J. F. Gayley. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 203 

In connection with the clinical service two rooms within the 
building were appropriated for the accommodation of patients 
requiring operations, who could not be immediately renaoved. 
By this arrangement the same attention, nursing, and care can 
be bestowed upon the subjects of capital operations as in a 
hospital. 

. With a view of completing the plan for clinical instruction, 
so as to give to it the greatest efficiency compatible with the 
progress of medical education, on October 4, 1845, it was 

"Eesolved, by the Facult}^ that a surgeon connected with 
the Pennsylvania Hospital, and whose duties there were per- 
formed during the session of the University, be requested to 
officiate as Clinical Lecturer on Surgery." 

This led to the creation of the Chair of Clinical Surgery in 
the University by the Trustees, and the appointment by the 
Board, in 1847, of Dr. Jacob Randolph to perform the duties 
of the office in the Hospital.^ 

In 1848 Dr. Randolph died,^ and Dr. Greorge W. Norris, who 
had delivered the course of clinical lectures under the auspices 
of the University during Dr. Randolph's illness, was elected 
his successor in the professorship. Dr. Norris continued to 
perform his duties as Clinical Professor until 1857, when, upon 
being elected a Trustee of the University, he resigned. 

The. instruction in the Pennsylvania Hospital having now 
been fully organized, with regular lectures delivered through- 
out the year by the physicians and surgeons in attendance, 
and a similar system introduced into the Philadelphia Hospital, 
the office of Clinical Professor to the University has been 
abolished. Students have now the advantages afforded in the 
way of instruction by both these Institutions, which have occu- 
pied so important a position in connection with medical 
teaching; and also those afforded by the clinics in the Univer 
sity building. 

The establishment of numerous hospitals of late years, both 
of a general character or devoted to special diseases, has greatly 

' Dr. Randolph had previously accepted the invitation of the Faculty to 
deliver the lectures on Clinical Surgery. 

2 An interesting Memoir of Dr. Jacob Randolph was read before the Col- 
lege of Physicians of Philadelphia by Dr. George W. Xorris. 



204 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

increased the sources of medical information, and opened a 
more extensive field for tlie cultivation of medical science to 
the young and zealous aspirants whose talents and energies 
are each year called into requisition to minister to the maladies 
of the inmates of these charitable institutions. 

The hospitals of Philadelphia, besides the two large ones 
mentioned, are the Wills Hospital, for diseases of the eye and 
ear ; St. Joseph's Hospital, the Episcopal Hospital, the Preston 
Ketreat for Lying-in Women, the Children's Hospital, Howard 
Hospital, and some others lately organized. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF PEXXSYLVANIA. 205 



CHAPTER XYII. 

Uniyersity Buildings and accommodations for the delivery of the medical 

lectm-es. 

The inquiry will naturally arise with respect to the nature 
of the accommodations possessed by the Medical Faculty, from 
the earliest period, for conducting their courses of instruction; 
and, in connection with this inquiry, the precise locality of 
such accommodations is not without interest. 

When Dr. Shippen commenced his labors as an instructor 
in Anatomy, he occupied apartments in the rear of his father's 
residence in Fourth Street above Market, which had been pre- 
pared for this especial purpose. There the lectures on 
Anatomy, Surgery, and Midwifery, were delivered even some 
years after he was installed Professor of the College. Access 
to these apartments was by an alley-way from Market Street 
above Fourth. In speaking of these arrangements, Dr. Wistar 
remarks : " He had apartments of his own construction every 
way adequate to the accommodation of his class, with proper 
arrangements also for teaching practical anatomy." 

The probability is that the other lectures were delivered in 
the old Academy Building in Fourth Street, near to Arch. 
This building had been erected for religious purposes at the 
time of Whitfield's popularity in America, to accommodate 
those who were attracted by his preaching, and for free reli- 
gious services. In 1749, upon the establishment of the Aca- 
demy, it was conveyed to the Trustees, upon the assumption 
of a debt that existed, and with the condition that it should be 
used by such ministers as were approved by the Trustees. 
An attraction which it possessed was a hall, which, at the 
time, Avas regarded as spacious, and adapted for public gather- 
ings. From the Minutes of the Board of Trustees we are 
informed that subsequent improvements and alterations were 



206 MEDICAL DEPAETMENT OF 

made witli the view to the accommodation of the several 
schools connected with the Institution. 

The first building specially erected for the use of the Medical 
Professors was situated in Fifth Street below Library — the edi- 
fice to the south of the Philadelphia Dispensary. It is figured 
in Birch's Yiews of Philadelphia, published about 1800, as "Sur- 
geons' Hall." The exact time that this building was erected 
seems to have escaped recollection or record. In reporting 
upon a claim to title involving some portion of the lot adja- 
cent, which had been ceded in 1788, the Committee of the 
Trustees, to whom the question was years afterwards referred, 
remark that " at the date of this deed, and long before, as the 
Committee have understood, the building called the Anatomi- 
cal Hall, was erected, &c."^ As the University superseded the 
College in 1779, this building must have been erected for the 
accommodation of a part of the Medical Faculty attached to 
the former. In the early advertisements of the Lectures, there 
are no references to the location of their delivery, nor have 
we any record by which we can be guided in designating 
exactly where each course was given. 

Upon the resumption of its charter and privileges by the 
College in 1789, the University was compelled to provide new 
accommodations, and it leased a portion of the building then 
recently erected by the Philosophical Society on Fifth Street, 
for the term of five years. Upon the union of the schools in 
1791, this lease was not resumed. It is evident, from perusing 
the documents referring to the subject, that the several schools 
pertaining to the University were cramped for want of room 
in which to carry on their operations. In an address to the 
Legislature, on Jan. 3, 1792, the following language is used by 
the Trustees: *' We are desirous that additional buildings may 
be erected, and that our Library and Philosophical Apparatus 
should be enlarged, but we find that the revenues at present 

1 Upon a close examination of the Minutes of tlie Board of Trustees, we 
have been unable to find any reference to the erection of Surgeons' Hall. 
The Committee referred to, Messrs. Binney and Gibson, accurate lawyers, 
had they been more successful, would not have used the indefinite lan- 
guage quoted in giving an opinion upon a title. Surgeons' Hall was sub- 
sequently the Board of Health office. 



THE UXIVERSITY OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 207 

belonging to the Institution will not be sufficient to accomplish 
these purposes, and the benevolent and liberal views of the 
Legislature without further aid." 

In July, 1800, the Trustees became possessed, by purchase, 
of the edifice that had been built by the State of Pennsylvania, 
on jSTinth Street, between Chestnut and Market, for the accom- 
modation of the President of the United States.^ The accept- 
ance of this building on the part of the General Government 
was declined by Mr. Adams, and as the government was soon 
afterwards removed to Washington City, the edifice was sold 
at auction, and purchased, with adjacent property, by the 
Trustees of the University. The cost of the edifice itself was 
twenty-four thousand dollars, and the expense was met by the 
sale of the south end of the old Academy in Fourth Street. 

In 1800, at the time of opening the session, the Medical 
Faculty applied for accommodation in the building on Ninth 
Street, and in April, 1802, the Committee on the ''New Build- 
ing" reported that " they have the pleasure of announcing to 
the Board that all the schools, except the Charity School, were 
removed to the new University on Ninth Street. They have 
fitted up the west Bow Eoom in the second story for the 
Medical Schools, and if the Chemical Professor should desire 
a room for his chemical apparatus, he can be accommodated 
in the lower story." 

That this arrangement w^as not satisfactory is learned from 
the Minutes of the Medical Faculty, March 17, 180-1. 

"To the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, the 
petition of the Medical Professors in said University respect- 
fully showeth : That from the late increase of medical students, 
amounting last winter to one hundred and fifty, the rooms in 

' The following is from the "Pa. Gazette," May IG, 1792: " On FricL^v last 
the GoYcrnor of this State laid the Corner Stone of the President's House 
in Ninth Street. The inscription on the stone is — 

This Corner Stone was laid 

On the 10th day of May, 1792, 

The State of Pennsylvania out of debt. 

Thomas Mifflin, Governor." 

The edifice was completed in 1797. It was commenced at the time 
Washington was President, and is said to have cost one hundred thousand 
dollars. 



208 MEDICAL DEPAETMEJSTT OF 

whicli Anatomy and Chemistry are taught, in Fifth Street, are 
too small to accommodate them:' 

" That the room in the University on Ninth Street, in which 
the other branches of Medicine are taught, is so remote from 
the Anatomical and Chemical Eooms as to make it disagreea- 
ble and inconvenient for the students of medicine to pass suc- 
cessively from one to the other in the inclement season of the 
year in which the lectures are usually delivered.^ 

"Under these circumstances your petitioners request the 
appropriation of four rooms on the first floor of the north end 
of the building in Fourth Street, formerly the seat of the Uni- 
versity, exclusively for their use. 

" The advantages of this situation for the delivery of their 
lectures they conceive to be as follows: — 

" First. It will be the centre of population of the city. 

" Secondly. It is well sequestered from the streets, and un- 
connected with dwelling-houses, and thus defended from acci- 
dent, injuries, and inspection. 

" Thirdly. It will readily admit of additions, when they 
shall become necessary, from the extent of the lot westward 
on v/hich the building stands. 

"Fourthly. It will enable the students to pass with ease 
from one teacher to another, without exposing themselves in a 
long walk in bad weather ; and, lastly, it will establish a rela- 
tionship and uniformity between the accomm.odations of the 
medical sciences and those respectable and decent apartments 
in which other branches of science are taught in the Uni- 
versity. 

" The building now occupied by the Professors of Anatomy 
and Chemistry, your petitioners conceive, may be rented for a 
sum 'nearly equal to that which arises from the rent of the 
rooms which are the objects of the petition." 

This petition appears not to have met a favorable reception 
on the part of the Board of Trustees, and in 1806 a new propo- 
sition was submitted to the Board, by which the medical pro- 
fessors held themselves responsible for the interest of a sum to 



torj, and sometimes the Anatomical Hall. 

^ Ninth Street, at the time, was upon the extreme verge of the city. 



THE UXIVEBSITY OF PEXXSYLVAXIA. 209 

be expended in their behalf in the erection of apartments suita- 
ble for the medical lectures. This proposition was acceded to, 
and an addition was made to the building in Ninth Street, in 
which the lectures were delivered, while the room which had 
been occupied by Dr. Eush and Dr. Barton, on the second floor 
of the main building, was appropriated for the Museum. 

The new apartments were occupied in 1^07, and. here Dr. 
Shippen took part in the course which was the last in which 
he was eogaged. Dr. Wistar thus refers to Dr. Shippen in 
this connection: ''Last winter (1807) he delivered the intro- 
ductory lecture, though very infirm, and unlike what he had 
formerly been. Yet he was much roused by the appearance 
of the class in the new theatre, and feelingly described his emo- 
tions upon comparing these with his original set of students 
forty years before." 

In 1817, the Medical Hall was further enlarged, and on Nov. 
4th, 1828, it was "resolved that the present Medical Hall is, in 
the -opinion of the Committee (to whom the subject had been re- 
ferred), inconvenient in several respects, and as it is incapable 
of being so altered as to afford accommodations suitable to the 
flourishing condition of the school, it is deemed advisable to 
erect a new building." In 1829, the Trustees determined to 
remove all the buildings, and to substitute for them upon the 
same lot the two buildings now constituting the Medical Hali 
and that for the other departments of the University. 

The ]\[edical Hall was planned and built under the super- 
vision of the Faculty. It contains three large lecture rooms, a 
spacious museum, rooms for anatomical purposes, and small 
apartments for the use of the professors and for the business of 
the institution. The corner-stone of this building was laid on 
the occasion of the commencement of 1829. The following is 
the account of the ceremonies at the time published: — 

"At a Medical Commencement, held March 21st, 1829, in 
the saloon of the Masonic Hall, Chestnut Street, the Degree of 
Doctor of Medicine was conferred on one hundred and seven 
gentlemen, who had passed the examination by the Medical 
Faculty. On the same occasion the corner-stone of the new 
Medical Hall was laid, and an inscription to the following 
effect, along with the list of graduates, was deposited; a suita- 
14 



210 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF 

ble address being delivered to the graduates and the public in 
the Masonic Hall by the Eev. William H. Delancej, D.D., 
Provost."^ 

1 INSCKIPTIOK. 
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
Trustees. 
The GoYERNOE, OF THE State {ex officio)^ President of the Board. 
Rt. Rev. William White, D. D,, Kicholas Biddle, 

Edward Burd, Zaccheus Collins, 

William Rawle, LL.D., P. S. Duponceau, LL. D., 

Benjamin R. Morgan, Joseph Hopkinson, LL. D., 

Horace Binnet, LL. D., Jaimes Gibson, 

William Meredith, Joseph R. Ingersoll, 

Benjamin Chew, Rev. Philip F. Mayer, D. D., 

Rev. James Wilson, D. D., Philip H. Nicklin, 

' Robert Waln, Rt. Rev. Henry U. Onderdonk, D.D., 

John Sergeant, LL. D., John C. Lowber, 

Thomas Cadwalader, Robert Walsh, Jr., LL. D., 

Charles Chatjncey, Rev. Thomas H. Skinner, D. D. 

Joseph Reed, Becretafy. 

Professors of the Collegiate Department. 

The Rev. William H. Delancey, D. D., Provost, Professor of Moral 
Philosophy. 

Robert Adrian, LL. D., Yice Provost, and Professor of Mathematics. 

The Rev. Samuel B. Wiley, D. D., Professor of Languages. 

Alexander Dallas Bache, A. M., Professor of Natural Philosophy and 
Chemistry. 

The Rev. Edward Rutledge, A. M., Assistant Professor of Moral Phi- 
losophy. 

Professors in the Medico2 De'partment. 

Philip Syng Physick, M. D., Professor of Anatomy. 

Nathaniel Chapman, M. D., Professor of the Institutes and Practice of 
Physic and Clinical Medicine. 

William Gibson, M. D., Professor of Surgery. 

John Redman Coxe, M. D., Professor of Materia Medica and Pharmacy. 

Robert Hare, M. D., Professor of Chemistry. 

Thomas C. James, M. D., Professor of Midwifery. • 

William E. Horner, M. D., Adjunct Professor of Anatomy. 

William P. Dewees, M. D., Adjunct Professor of Midwifery. 

Samuel Jackson, M. D., Assistant to the Professor of the Institutes an^ 
Practice of Medicine and Clinical Medicine. 

William E. Horner, Dean. 

Andrew Jackson, President of the United States. 

John C. Calhoun, Vice-President. 

John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States. 



THE UXIVEKSITY OF PENXSYLVAXIA. 211 

The medical lectures of tlie session 1829-30 were delivered 
in the new building, and the first class of medical graduates 
issued from its walls in 1830. 

The history of the Medical Department of the University of 
Pennsylvania is here brought to a close. The author has en- 
deavored to present a clear exposition of the circumstances 
connected with the rise and progress of this School of Medi- 
cine, and at the same time to give a succinct account of the 
lives and labors of the illustrious members of the Profession 
whose reputation is inseparably connected with it. 

In this narrative, omission has designedly been made of any 
extended exposition of the character and services of the dis- 
tinguished men still living, who have so greatly added to the 
strength and contributed to the prosperity of the school ; who 
have retired from the scene of their usefulness, and who now 
enjoy the reward of consciousness that their talents and acquire- 
ments have been employed honorably and effectively in the 
cause of science and humanity. They now continue in connec- 
tion with the University in the honorary position of emeritus 
professors. Their distinctive qualities and merits will be the 
theme of the future historian. 

From the uniform success which has attended the career 
of the medical school of the University, assurance is given 
that the responsible charge which has been transmitted from 
generation to generation has been faithfully preserved; that 
the trust committed to its professors has always been regarded 

John Andrew Shulze, Governor of the Slate of Pennsylvania. 

John B. Gihson, Chief Justice. 

George M. Dallas, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. 

" TJiis inscription, deposited March 21st, A. D. one thousand eight hun- 
dred and twenty-nine, commemorates the layingof the corner-stone of the 
new Medical Hall, sixty-four years after the original organization of the 
Medical Faculty by Drs. Morgan and Shippen ; the institution having in 
the meantime conferred the degree of Doctor of Medicine upon upwards of 
two thousand gentlemen educated within its walls, who, dispersed in dif- 
ferent quarters of the United States, have thus extended the blessings of 
sound medical instruction, and in many instances organizing themselves 
into new schools of medicine, have thus made the University of Pennsyl- 
vania the parent' of Medical Science in the United States." ) 



212 UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

as a sacred one, and that as such it has been emulously 
cherished. Nearly eight thousand pupils have graduated from 
the halls of the institution, and have diffused the blessings of 
their calling throughout the length and breadth of these United 
States. But another mission has been assigned to this ancient 
school of medicine; it has been the nursery of teachers. De- 
riving its descent from the University of Edinburgh, and more 
remotely through that institution from the University of Ley- 
den, the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania 
has in turn become the parent of numerous schools of medicine, 
and has thus been the means of transferring the facilities of 
acquiring and cultivating medical science from the Old World 
to the New. To the compeers which have been brought into 
existence by its own and other instrumentalities and which are 
engaged in laudable and honorable efforts to disseminate true 
learning and science, and to improve the efficiency and main- 
tain the exalted character of the Medical Profession, the Uni- 
versity should ever extend a cordial sympathy. The reputa- 
tion acquired by them, is reactive. It is only by mutually 
sustained energy that the good of mankind can be successfully 
promoted. 



APPE?(DIX. 



A. — page 57. 



"Dr. Shippen's course of An'atomical Lectures will begin on 
Thnrsday, the 14tli of November, 1765. It will consist of sixty 
lectures, in which the situation, figure, and structure of all the 
Parts of the Human Body will be demonstrated on the fresh 
subject; their respective uses explained, and their Diseases, with 
the Indications and Methods of Cure, briefly treated of; all the 
necessary Operations in Surgerj^ will be performed, a Course of 
Bandages given, and the whole will conclude with a few plain 
and general directions in the Practice of Midwifery. Each Per- 
son to pay six Pistoles. 

" Those who incline to attend the Pennsylvania Hospital, and 
have the Benefit of the curious anatomical Plates and Casts there, 
to pay six Pistoles to that useful Charity. 

" A Course of Lectures on the Materia Medica, by John 
3Iorgan, M. i)., F. P. S., and Professor of Medicine in the College 
of Philadelphia. Price, Four Pistoles. 

"This Course will commence on Monday', the 18th day of Xo- 
vember, and be given three times a week, at the College, viz., 
[Mondaj's, Wednesday's, and Frida3^s, at three o'clock in the 
afternoon, till finished, which will last between three and four 
months. 

'• To render these lectures as instructive as possible to students 
of Physic, the Doctor proposes, in the course of them, to give 
some useful Observations on Medicine in general, and the proper 
manner of conducting the study of Physic. The authors to be 
read in the Materia Medica will be pointed out. The various 
Substances made use of in Medicine will be reduced under Classes 
suited to the principal Indications in the cure of Diseases. Simi- 
lar virtues in different Plants, and their comparative powers, will 
be treated of, and an Enquir}' made into the different Methods 



214 APPENDIX. 

which have been used in discovering the Qualities of Medicines ; 
tlie virtues of the most efficacious will be particularly insisted 
upon; the Manner of preparing and combining them will be 
shown by some instructive Lessons upon Pharmaceutic Chemis- 
try: This will open to students a general Idea both of Chemistr3^ 
and Pharmacy. To prepare them more effectually for under- 
standing the art of prescribing with Elegance and Propriety, if 
time allows, it is proposed to include in this course some critical 
Lectures upon the chief Preparations contained in the Dispensa- 
tories of the Royal College of Ph3'sicians at London and Edin- 
burgh. The whole will be illustrated with many useful Practical 
Observations on Diseases, Diet, and Medicines. 

"jS^o person will be admitted without a Ticket for the whole 
course. Those who propose to attend this course are desired to 
applj^ to the Doctor for Tickets, at least a week before the Lec- 
tures begin. A Dollar will be required of each student, to 
matriculate, which will be applied in purchasing Books for a 
Medical Librar}^ in the College for the Benefit of the Medical 
Students. John Morgan. 

" P. S. Two convenient lower stores to be let by Dr. Morgan, 
under his dwelling on Water Street, near Walnut Street, where 
Mr. Mease lately lived, at a very reasonable rate." 

B. — page 91. 

" Commencement of the College of Philadelphia, June 28, 
lt69. 

" The Degree of Bachelor of Medicine was conferred on James 
Armstrong, Josias Carroll Hall, John Hodge, John Houston, 
Thomas Pratt, Alexander Skinner, Myndert Yeeder, and John 
Winder. 

" The Medical Exercises were the following: — 

" An oration in honor of Medicine, by Mr. Hall. 

" A Forensic Dispute, w^hether Medicine hath done most good 
or harm in the world, by Messrs. Alexander Skinner and John 
Hodge. 

" An oration on the most probable method of obtaining a good 
old age, by Mr. John Winder. 

" In the composition of these exercises the young gentlemen 
gave full proofs of learning, as well as a thorough acquaintance 
with their subjects and the History of Physic, and they were 



APPENDIX. 215 

honored with the close atteutiou and warm approbation of the 
audience. Mr. Skinner's part of the Forensic Dispute, in par- 
ticular, seemed to afford singular entertainment, from the candid 
freedom which he took with his own Profession, and the very 
humorous manner in which he attempted to prove that Medicine 
had done more harm than good in the world; which Position of 
his was, however, very seriously and fully replied to by Mr. 
Hodge. To this succeeded a very solemn and interesting charge, 
in which the Provost addressed himself chiefly to the graduates 
in the arts, adding, with respect to the graduates in Ph3^sic, that 
he had prevailed on a gentleman of their own Profession, whose 
precepts would receive Dignit}^ from his ^^ears and experience, to 
la}^ before them what he thought requisite as w^ell for the honour 
of the College, as for promoting their own future honour and 
usefulness in life. This part was accordingl}^ performed b}^ Dr. 
Thomas Bond, in a manner so truly feeling and affectionate that 
it could not fail to make a serious impression on those for whom 
it was designed." — Pennsylvania Gazette^ J^^ly 6, 1*769. 



C. — page T5. 

The following is the announcement of the course under the 
organization of the Faculty at the date specified: — ■ 

"College of Philadelphia, Oct. 13, 1769. 

" Dr. Rush's lutroductoiy Lecture to his course of Chemistry 
will be delivered publickly at the College on Monda}-, the 30th 
inst., at 11 o'clock in the Forenoon. 

"Dr. Morgan's Course of Lectures on the Theoiy and Prac- 
tice of Physic will begin on Monday, the 30th inst., at 3 o'clock 
in the afternoon. 

'• Dr. Bond's Course of Clinical Lectures will begin on Tuesday, 
the 31st inst., at 11 o'clock in the forenoon, at the Pennsylvania 
Hospital. 

" Dr. Kuhn's Course of Materia !Medica will begin on Wednes- 
da}', the first of November, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon. 

'•Dr. Shippen's Course of Anatoni}^ and Surgery will be given 
on Wednesday, the first of Xovember, at six o'clock in the 
evening. 

'• Those gentlemen who propose to attend these lectures are 
desired to call on the respective Professors for Tickets of Admis- 



216 APPENDIX. 

sion, any time before the coarse commences." — Pennsylvania 
Gazette. 

D. — page 75. 

" Minutes of Board of Trustees, May 20, Ittl. 

" Agreed to the explanation made by the Faculty of the Clause 
for examining the Candidates for a Doctor's Degree in Physic, 
which is as follows : — 

" That such Candidates be examined on their Theses before the 
day of Commencement, and on that day, immediately before re- 
ceiving their Degrees, they be asked a few Questions in Latin on 
the subject of their Thesis, which they are to answer in the same 
language. 

" It is the order of the Trustees that the Fee for the Degree of 
Doctor in Physic, be to the Provost one Guinea, and one Guinea 
to each of the Medical Professors, and that the Public Commence- 
ment be held on Friday, June 28th. 

" It is ordered that all the Fees on Degrees be paid or settled 
for before the conferring of Degrees. 

" At the Commencement June 28th, Ittl, the Degree of Bache- 
lor of Physic was conferred on Benjamin Alison, Jonathan 
Easton, John Kuhn, Frederick Kuhn, Bodo Otto, Robert Pot- 
tinger, and William Smith. 

''Messrs. Jonathan Elmer, of ^. J.; Jonathan Potts, of Potts- 
grove, Pa. ; James Tilton, of Dover ; and Mcholas Way, of Wil- 
mington, then presented themselves, agreeably to the Rules of 
the College, to defend, in Latin, the Dissertations printed for 
the Degree of Doctor in Physic. 

" Mr. Elmer's Piece, ' De Causis et Remediis sitis in Febribus,' 
was impugned by Dr. Kuhn, Professor of Botany and Materia 
Medica. 

"Mr. Potts, 'De Febribus intermittentibus, potissimum ter- 
tianis,' was impugned by Dr. Morgan, Professor of the Theory 
and Practice of Physic. 

"Mr. Tilton's 'De Hydrope' was impugned by Dr. Shippen, 
Professor of Anatomy. 

" Mr. Way's ' De Yariolarum Insitione' was impugned by Dr. 
Rush, Professor of Chemistry, 

"Each of the candidates having judiciously answered the ob- 
jections made to some parts of their Dissertations, the Provost 
conferred upon them the Degree of Doctor of Physic, with par- 



APPENDIX. 217 

ticular solemnitj^, as the highest mark of literary honour which 
they could receive in the Profession. 

" Dr. Morgan, who was appointed to that part of the Business, 
entered into a particular account of those Branches of study 
which the Medical Gentlemen ought still to prosecute with unre- 
mitted Diligence, if the}'' w^ished to be eminent in their Profession, 
lading down some useful rules for an honourable practice in the 
Discharge of it. He observed that the ' oath' which was pre- 
scribed by Hippocrates to his Disciples had been generally adopted 
in Universities and Schools of Physic on like occasions, and that 
laying aside the form of oaths, the College, which is of a free 
spirit, wished onl}^ to bind its Sons and Graduates by the ties of 
Honour and Gratitude, and that therefore he begged leave to 
impress upon those who had received the distinguished Degree of 
Doctor, that as they were among the foremost sons of the Insti- 
tution, and as the Birth Day of Medical Honours had arisen upon 
them with auspicious lustre, thc}^ would, in their practice, consult 
the safety of their Patients, the good of the community, and the 
dignit}^ of their Profession, so that the Seminar}^ from which they 
derived their Titles in Physic, might never have cause to be 
ashamed of them." 

E. — page 81. 

*^* " It has given Dr. Shippen much pain to hear that not- 
withstanding all the caution and care he has taken to preserve 
the utmost decency in opening and dissecting dead bodies, which 
he has persevered in chiefly from the motive of being useful to 
mankind, some evil-minded persons, either w^antonly or mali- 
ciously, have reported to his disadvantage that he has taken up 
some persons who are buried in the Church Burying Ground, 
which has distressed the minds of his worthy Fellow Citizens. 
The Doctor, with much pleasure, improves this opportunity to 
declare that the Report is absolutely false, and to assure them 
that the bodies he dissected were either of persons who had wil- 
fully murdered themselves, or were publickly executed, except 
now and then one from Potter's field, whose death was owing to 
some particular disease, and that he never had one body from the 
church or an}' private Burial Place." — Pennsylvania Gazette^ 
Oct. 31, 1705. 



218 



APPENDIX. 



F.— page 120. 

Number of Graduates from 1^68 ^o 1810. 

It is impossible to present a complete list of the students 
attending lectures in the College and University prior to 1810. 
'No catalogues are in existence to which to refer for information, 
and all that can be known of the progressive prosperity of the 
School is derived from the annual registration of the graduates. 
For a long time no regular minutes of the Faculty of Medicine 
appear to have been kept, and our source of knowledge of the 
affairs of the Medical Department is the record of the Board of 
Trustees. The system of rotation in the office of Dean was not 
calculated to secure the methodical transcription of the business 
operations of the Faculty, which is now desirable in determining 
points of historical interest, and, until the appointment of Dr. 
Horner as permanent Dean, perfect regularity in the preservation 
of all the minutiae connected with attendance and graduation, was 
not introduced. The following summary may be regarded as 
correct Avith reference to the graduates within the period specified 
above ; it was carefully prepared by Drs. Wood and Horner, and 
introduced into the sketcli of the Medical Department published 
with the general list of graduates.^ 

A. D. 1768, Graduates 

" 1769, 

" 1770, " 

" 1771, " 

" 1773, " 

" 1780, " 

" 1781, " 

" 1782, " 



. . 10 


A. D 


1783, 


Graduates . 


. 4 


. . 8 


" 


1784, 




8 


. . 1 


u 


1785, 




9 


. . 7 




1786, 




4 


3 


;; 


1787, 




5 


. . 3 


li 


1788, 




6 


. . 2 


a 


1789, 




3 


. . 8 











It will be perceived that there is a deficiency from HIS to 
1*180. This was the period of the political troubles, which occu- 
pied the attention of the country, and of the most stirring events 
of the Revolution. 



In the College. 




In the University. 




. D. 1790, Graduates ^ . 


5 


A. D. 1790, Graduates . . 


12 


" 1791, " . . 


5 


" 1791, " . . 


1 



' The General Catalogue of Graduates was published in 1839, and re- 
vised in 1845. 



APrEXDIX. 



In the TTniversifij from 1T92 to 1810. 



A. D. 1702, Graduates . . 6 

'• 1793, " . . 10 

" 1794, " . . 8 

" 1795, " . . 4 

" 1796, ■ " . . 4 

" 1797, " . . 14 

" 1798, " . . 12 

" 1799, " . . 8 

" 1800, " . . 10 

" 1801, " . . 10 



A. D. 1802, Graduates 

" 1803, '■' 

" 1804, 

" 1805, " 

" 1806, 

" 1807, 

" 1808, " 

" 1809, " 

" 1810, " 



From 1810 to the present date, the lists of students 
o-raduates have been carefully recorded; the following 
summary : — 



A. D. 1810-11, Matriculates 

" 1811-12, 

" 1812-13, " 

" 1813-14, " 

" 1814-15, " 

" 1815-16, " 

" 1816-17, 

" 1817-18, " 

" 1818-19, " 

" 1819-20, " 

." 1820-21, " 

" 1821-22, " 

" 1822-23, " 

" 1823-24, " 

" 1824-25, " 

" 1825-26, " 

'• 1826-27, " 

" 1827-28, " 

" 1828-29, 

" 1829-30, 

" 1830-31, " 

'■ 1831-32, " 

" 1832-33, " 

'^ 1833-34, " 

" 1834-35, 

" 1835-36, 

" 1836-37, 

" 1837-38, 

" 1838-39, 

" 1839-40, 

" 184^-41-, 

" 1841-42, 



406 

387 

349 

345 

319 

388 

436 

465 

422 

330 

325 

357 

455 

424 

487 

440 

441 

409 

362 

421 

410 

386 

367 

432 

390 

398 

405 

380 

403 

444 

412 

363 



Graduates 



219 



. 22 
. 15 
. 13 
. 24 
. 21 
. 31 
. 60 
. 63 
. 65 



and of 
is tlie 



63 

70 

61 

62 

44 

70 

74 

87 

102 

78 

66 

77 

101 

96 

111 

114 

131 

133 

109 

127 

151 

134 

117 

145 

135 

132 

162 

157 

158 

163 

166 

114 



220 



A. D. 





APJ 


^ENDIX. 






1842-43, 


Matriculates 


. 350 


Graduates . 


. 117 


1843-44, 


u 


. 424 


u 


. 153 


1844-45, 


(( 


. 446 


a 


. 164 


1845-46, 


(( 


. 462 


u 


. 168 


1846-47, 


u 


. 411 


;( 


. 163 


1847-48, 


(( 


. . 508 


u 


. 174 


1848-49, 


u 


. . 499 


(( 


. . 190 


1849-50, 


ii 


. 439 


" 


. 178 


1850-51, 


u 


. 466 


u 


. 167 


1851-53, 


(( 


. 410 


u 


. 151 


1852-53, 


u 


. 431 


. u 


. . 166 


1853-54, 


(( 


. 463 


ii 


. . 177 


1854-55, 


(( 


. 426 


a 


. 178 


1855-56, 


u 


. 372 


" 


. 142 


1856-57, 


u 


. 454 


u 


. . 154 


1857-58, 


(( 


. 435 


u 


. . 145 


1858-59, 


(( 


. 409 


(( 


. . 142 


1859-60, 


u 


. . 528 


i(. 


. 173 


1860-61, 


a 


. . 465 


u 


. . 176 


1861-62, 


;( 


. . 309 


u 


. 92 


1862-63, 


;( 


. 319 


ii 


. 78 


1863-64, 


u 


. 401 


ii 


. . 101 


1864-65, 


a 


. 425 


u 


. 117 


1865-66, 


u 


. . 520 


(( 


. . 164 


1866-67, 


u 


. . 468 


u 


. 156 


1867-68, 


a 


. . 408 


u 


. 153 



Gr. — page 195. 

P?^ofessors of the University connected 

Hospital. 

1. John Morgan, 



with the Pennsylvania 



2. Adam Kuhn, 



3. James Hutchinson, 



4. William Shippen, Jr., 



5. Benjamin Rush, ..." 

6. Caspar Wistar, . . . " 

7. Philip Syng Physick, . " 

8. Benjamin Smith Barton, " 

9. John Redman Coxe, . " 
10. Thomas C. James, . . " 



from 1773 to 

" 1778 to 
'• 1774 to 
" 1782 to 
. " 1777 to 
" 1779 to 
" 1778 to 
" 1791 to 
. " 1783 to 
. " 1793 to 
. " 1794 to 
1798 to 
1802 to 
1807 to 



1783,1 ^^^'^• 


11 mos 


1798,} 2^^^^- 


6 mos 


1778,| 
1793,; 






1802,1 l^y^'^- 


11 mos 


1813, 29 yrs. 


10 mos. 


1810, 16 yrs. 


5 mos 


1816, 22 yrs. 


1 mo. 


1815, 17 yrs. 


6 mos. 


1807, 4 yrs. 


9 mos. 


1832, 25 yrs. 


10 mos. 



APPEXDIX. 221 



11. John Syxg Dorset, . from 1810 to 1818, 8 yrs. G mos. 

12. Hugh L. Hodge, 

13. George B. Wood, 

14. Jacob Randolph, 

15. George W. Xorris, 



16. William Pepper, 
IT. Joseph Carson, 



1832 to 1854, 22 yrs. 
1835 to 1859, 24 ^ts. 
1835 to 1848, 12 3'rs. 10 mos. 



1836 to 1863, 21 yrs. 
1842 to 1859, IT yrs. 
1849 to 1854, 5 yrs. 



18. Francis Gurney Smith, " 1859 to 1864, 5 3TS. 

Professors of the University connected with the Almshouse. 
[Philadelphia Hospital.] 

Adam Kuhn, 1TT4-1TT6 

Benjamin Rush 1TT4-1TTT 

Samuel P. Griffitts, .... 1T88-1T89 

Caspar Wistar, 1T88-1T90 

William Shippen, Jr 1T89-1T90 

Thomas C. James, 1T9T-1821 

Philip Stng Physick, .... 1801-1805 

Benjamin Smith Barton, . . . 1804-1805 

T c T^ (1805-1811 

John Syng Dorse y, < 

' (1814-1818 



Xathaniel Chapman, 



(1805-1815 



'' ' ■ ' *ll822-1832 

William Gibson, 1821-1840 

William E. Horner, .... 1821-1845 

Samuel Jackson, 1822-1845 

Hugh L. Hodge, 1822-1835 

Jacob Randolph, 1 832-1 83T 

Henry H. Smith, 1854-185T 

R. A. F. Penrose, 1854-1868 

Joseph Carson, 1 855-1 85T 

Alfred Stille, 1865 



H. — page 133. 

The first Societ}' established in Philadelphia originated with 
Dr. Morgan, and a number of other practitioners, including Dr. 
J. Kearsley, Jr., Gerardus' Clarkson, James A. Baj-ard, Robert 
Harris, and George Glentworth. It was called the ^'Philadelphia 
Medical Society.^'' To this Association reference must have been 
made by Dr. Rush in a letter to Dr. Morgan, in 1 T68, when he says: 



222 APPENDIX. 

" B}^ means of Dr. Huck's and Dr. Franklin's friends, I have been 
introdnced to Sir John Pringle, and have the honour of belong- 
ing to a Medical Society, which meets every Wednesday evening 
at his house. The plan of it is not unlike the Medical Society 
3^ou have established in Philadelphia ; it consists of only eight or 
ten, who are all Sir John's particular friends." Tlie Society in 
which Dr. Morgan and the gentlemen mentioned were interested, 
did not survive the Revolution, when another Association was 
formed, entitled the ^'-American Medical Society.''^ With respect 
to this we have met with the following notice : — 

" The American Medical Society will meet at the College on 
Monday, Nov. 2d (IV 83), at 1 o'clock in the evening. 

Henry Stuber, /Sec." 

Four other Societies subsequently came into existence. The 
College of Physicians was organized in lt87, and was the third 
body of medical men associated for medical improvement. Next 
came the Philadelphia Medical Society, the Academy of Medi- 
cine, and the Medical Lyceum, which latter, in 1816, was merged 
into the Medical Society. 

The Philadelphia Medical Society was instituted in 1789, was 
first incorporated in 1792, and re-chartered in 1827. It was in- 
tended " for the purpose of mutual improvement in the science 
of medicine, and for the promoting of medical knowledge." It 
consisted of Junior and Honorary members ; the first-mentioned 
pertaining to the class of students. The exercises consisted of 
papers on medical subjects, and debates upon them, in which all 
were permitted to participate. This Society, after a spirited 
career of sixty years, ceased an active existence in 1846. Be- 
sides Drs. Rush and Barton, two other Professors of the Univer- 
sity were elected to the oflftce of President. Dr. Physick suc- 
ceeded Dr. Barton in 1815, and Dr. Chapman succeeded Dr. 
Physick in 1837. It was the fourth Medical Society organized 
in this cit}'', and was evidently founded in imitation of the Edin- 
burgh Medical Society. 



INDEX 



Aeernetht, Mr., 178 
Abrogation of College charter, 89 
Accessory course of lectures, 191 
Ad eundem footing, 105, 148 
Advertisement of Dr. Shippen -with re- 
gard to midwifery, 113 
Agnew, Dr. D. Hayes, 196 
Albinus, 31 
Aldricks, Director, 22 
Allen. Dr. Harrison, 193 
Almshouse, 196 
Alston. Dr., of Edinburgh, 78 
American Philosophical Society, His- 
tory of, 32 
American Society, 32 
American Medical Society, 222 
American Journal of Medical Sciences, 

178 
Anatomy, Dr. Cadwalader's lectures on, 
40 
Dr. Hunter, of Newport, lectures 

on, 40 
Dr. Shippen's lectures on, 40 
Announcement of Dr. Shippen's lec- 
tures in 1862, 40 
First, of the medical lectures in 

the College, 1765, 56 
lectures of 1767, 61 
Auxiliary Faculty, 191 

Bachelor of Medicine, degree of, con 
ferred by College in 1768. 68 
conferred in New York in 1769, 68 
abolition of degree of, 98 
Baldwin, Dr. William, 131 
Bird, Dr. John, 29, 30 
Bard. Dr. Samuel, 68 
Birthez, doctrines of, 176 
Barton, Dr. Benjamin Smith, appointed 
Professor of Natural History and 
Botany, 93 
elected Professor of Materia Medi- 

ca, 108 
elected to the Chair of Practice, 125 
sketch of his life, 126 



Barton, Dr. William P. C, 130, 135 
Birtram, John, 33 

William, 90 
Beck, Dr., on medical honors, 67 
Bell, Dr. John, of Philadelphia, 157 

John, of Edinburgh, 186 

Sir Charles, 186 
Bigelow, Dr. Jacob, 130 
Black, Dr. Joseph, 85 
Boerhaave, 30 
Bond, Dr. Thomas, 29, 30, 91 

letter to the Committee of Safety, 
88 

clinical lectures in the Pennsylva- 
nia Hospital, 57 
Bond, Dr. Phineas, 29, 33 
Borgetta, Dr Maria Bernardus, 91 
Botany, Dr. Kuhu appointed Professor 

of, 65 
Botanical Garden, Bartrams, 130 
of the University, 135 

Cadwalader. Dr. Thomas, 29, 31 
Caldwell, Dr. Charles, 198 
Carson, Dr John, elected Professor of 
Chemistry, 101 
Dr. Joseph, elected Professor of 
Matei'ia Medica and Pharmacy, 
179 
Caldwell, Dr. Charles, 135 
Cl'.almers, Dr., 25 

Chapman, Dr. Nathaniel, appointed 
with Dr. James to teach obste- 
trics, 115 
appointed Professor of Materia 

Medica, 125 
appointed I'rofessor of Practice, 13 
sketch of ills life, 172 
Church, Dr. John, 198 
Clayton, Dr., 25 
Clossy, Dr. Samuel, 68 
Clinical instruction, 195 
in Hospital 196 
in .Alnishou.se, 196 
Coldeu, Cadwallader, 25 



224 



IXDEX. 



Coleman, Willinra, 33 
College of Philadelphia, foundation of, 
52 

revival of, 92 

union of with the University, 97 

of Physicians, 221 
Colman, Rev. Benjamin, 21 
Colonists of North America, 18 
Commencement of 1768, 69 

of 1769, 71 

of 1771, 75 
Cooper, Dr. Thomas, 135 

Sir Astley, 186 
Coxe, Dr. John Redman, elected Pro- 
fessor of Chemistry, 108 

transferred to the Chair of Materia 
Medica, 142 

sketch of his life, 156 
Cullen, Dr. William, 82, 128 
Cummings, Dr., 198 
Currie, Dr. James, 45 

Darlington, Dr. William, 130 
De Lancey, Rev. Wm. H., Provost, 210 
Degree of M. B., College of Philadel- 
phia, 67 
of M. D., 71 

of M.D., University of Edinburgh, 
80 
Degrees in Pharmacy, 145 
in Medicine, 66 

rules for 59, 95, 117 
Des Cartes, 122 

De Costa, Dr, Joannes Franciscus, 91 
Dewees, Dr. William P., appointed Ad- 
junct Professor of Obstetrics, 148 
elected Professor of, 163 
sketch of his life, 161 
Difficulties of filling the professorships 

in the University in 1781-82, 90 
Dispensary, Philadelphia, 102 

Clinics, 202 
Dorsey, John Syng, elected to the Chair 
of Materia Medica, 133 
elected to the Chair of Anatomy, 

142 
sketch of his life, 142 
Drummond, Mr., 78 

Early medical teaching, 39 

Edinburgh, foundation of the Univer- 
sity of, 79 

EfiFects of the American Revolution on 
the College, 85 

Evans, Dr. Cadwalader, 29 

Ewing. Rev. Dr. John, Provost, 90 

Examinations for degrees, 68 
mode of, 115 



Faculty, Medical, of College in 1769-70, 

75 
Faculty of University in 1835, 164 
1869, 193 
of University of Edinburgh in 1768, 
85 
Fees in College for medical instruction, 

65 
Fothergill, Dr. John, 37-41 
Foulke. Dr. John, 89 
Fox, Dr. George, case of Csesarean sec- 
tion, 188 
Franklin, Dr., 33, 52 

Garden, Dr., 25 

Garden, Botanical, 130, 135 

Gastric origin of fever, 178 

Gaubius, 31 

Gerhard, Dr. William, 202 

Gibson, Dr. AVilliam, appointed Pro- 
fessor of Surgery, 144 
sketch of his life, 185 
Mr. Joseph, 111 

Godfrey, Thomas, 33 

Godman, Dr. John D., 178 

Gordon, Thomas F., 22 

Graduates first in Medicine, 69 

Graduation, rules for, 117 

Graeme, Dr. Thomas, 29, 36 

Gratuitous studentships, 146 

Gregory, Dr. John, 83, 85 

Green Box, 116 

Green House, Dr. Barton's, 131 

Green Room, 199 

Grifhtts, Dr. Samuel P., appointed Pro- 
fessor of Materia Medica and 
Pharmacy, 93 
sketch of his life, 1 02 

Hare, Dr. Robert, appointed Professor 
of Chemistry'', 142 
sketch of his life, 165 

Hartshorne, Dr. Henry, 193 

Hayden, Dr. F. V., 193 

Hays, Dr Isaac, 178 

Hewson, Mr. William, 48 
Dr Thomas T., 135 

Hodge, Dr. Hugh L., appointed Pro- 
fessor of Obstetrics, 160 
resignation of, 189 

Home, Dr. Francis, 85 

Honors, first medical, QQ 

Hooper, Dr., 31 

Hope, Dr. John, 85 

Hopkinson, Thomas, 33 

Horner, Dr. William E., appointed As- 
sistant to Dr Physic, 144 
appointed Adjunct Professor of 
Anatomy, 144 



INDEX. 



225 



Horner, Dr. William E , appointed Pro- 
fessor of xVuatomy, 149 
sketch of his life, 182 
Horstield, Dr. Thomas, 131 
Hosack, Dr. David, on medical honors, 

67 
Hospital, Pennsylvania, 36 
Howard, Thomas, 21 
Hunter, Dr. William, of Newport, 40 
Dr. William, of London, 48 
Mr. John, 48 
Hutchinson, Dr. James, elected Pro- 
fessor of Chemistry and Materia 
Medica in the University, 94 
sketch of his life, 99 

Instruction, clinical, 195 

Jackson, Dr. Samuel, appointed As- 
sistant Professor, 149 
elected Professor of the Institutes, 

160 
resignation of, 189 
James, Dr. Thomas Chalkley, elected 
Professor of Midwifery, 114 
sketch of his life, 154 
Johnson, Dr. William P., 202 

Kalm, Professor, 24 
Kearsley, Dr. John, 28 ' 

Dr. John, Jr., 29 
Kuhn, Dr. Adam, elected Prof, of Ma- 
teria Medica and Botany, 64 
elected Professor of Practice in the 

University, 93 
sketch of his life, 64 

La Roche, Dr. Rend, 53 
Lecture term altered, 171 
Lectures, Dr. Shippen's, 40 

clinical, in Hospital, 57, 194 
in Almshouse, 196 

of Dr. Smith, Provost, 62 

accessory course, 191 
Leib, Dr., 197 
Leidy, Dr. Joseph, elected Professor of 

Anatomy, 185 
Letsom, Dr., 127 
Leyden, University of, 30, 80 
Lining, Dr., of S. C, 25 
Location of Almshouse, 199 

of College buildings, 205 

of University buildings, 207 
Logan, James, 40 

Magill, Mr., 78 
McKenzie, Dr., 49 
McClung, Dr. James, 00 
Mease, Dr. James, 145 

15 



Medal awarded to Dr. Morgan, 58 
Medical teaching in America, first, 39 
Middleton, Dr. Peter, 24, 68 
Midwifery, separation from Anatomy, 

144 
Miller, Dr. Edward, 178 
Mitchell, Dr., of Virginia, 25 
Mobs in Edinburgh and Philadelphia, 81 
Monro, Mr. Alexander, 78 
Monteith, Dr., 78 
Moore, Dr. Samuel Preston, 36 
Morgagni, 46 
Morgan's, Dr. John, Address, 44 

elected the Professor of Theory 
and Practice of Physic, 53 

sketch of his life, 44 

death of, 93 
Moyes', Dr., lectures, 102 
Museum, Wistar and Horner, 140, 184 

Nancrede, Dr. Joseph, case of Ccesarean 
section, 188 

National Pharmacopoeia, 103 

Natural History, Dr. Barton appointed 
Professor of in College, 93 

Natural Science professorships, 135 

Newcomb, Mr. Daniel, permitted to at- 
tend lectures on ad eundem footing, 
105 

Norris, Dr. George W., elected Clinical 
Professor, 203 

North American Medical and Surgical 
Journal, 178 

Number of professorships in 1811, 116 

Nuttall, Mr. Thomas, 128 

Obstetrics, separation from Anatomy, 
110 

estimation of in Europe, 110 

instruction on, in Scotland and 
England, 111 

Dr. Thomas C. James elected Pro- 
fessor of, 114 

made essential for a degree, 115 

Owen, Dr. Griffith, 27 

Parsons, William, 33 

Patterson, Dr. Robert M., 32 

Penn, William, 26 

Penn, Thomas, Esq., letter to the 
Trustees of the College of Philadel- 
phia, 50 

Penrose, Dr. R. A. F., elected Professor 
of Obstetrics, &c., 189 

Pepper, Dr. William, elected Professor 
of Practice, 188 
sketch of his life, 189 

Petersen, Jan, of Alfendolft, 22 



226 



INDEX. 



Petition to the Legislature with regard 

to irregular practitioners, 105 
Pharmacopoeia, National, 103 
Philadelphia Journal of the Medical 
and Physical Sciences, 198 
Medical and Physical Journal, 132 
Physicians, first, of Philadelphia, 26 
Physic, Professorship of Theory and 

Practice instituted, 53 
Physick, Dr. Philip Syng, elected Pro- 
fessor of Surgery, 104 
resignation, and sketch of his life, 
149 
Pictures, anatomical, donation of by 
Dr. Fothergill to Pennsylvania PIos- 
pital, 41 
Plummer, Dr. Andrew, 78 
Potterfield, Dr., 79 
Potts, Dr. Jonathan, letter, 87 

graduation, 69-75 
Priestley, Dr. Joseph, refusal to accept 

the Chair of Chemistry, 101 
Publication of Dr. Cullen's lectures on 
Materia Medica, and First Lines, in 
Philadelphia, 84 
Pursh, Frederick, Mr., 126 

Qualifications for the Professorship of 
Chemistry, letter from Faculty, 
108 

for the Bachelor's degree in medi- 
cine, 60 

for the degree of Doctor of Medi- 
cine, 60, 95 

for the degree of M. D. in the Uni- 
versity of Edinburgh, 80 

Rae, Dr. John, 85 

Ramsay, Dr. David, 72, 90, 124 

Randolph, Dr. Jacob, elected Clinical 
Professor, 203 

Redman, Dr. John, 29, 36, 53 

Reese, Dr. John J., 193 

Repeal of the act of the Legislature ab- 
rogating the charter of the College, 
91 

Revolution, efi'ects of the American, on 
the College, 86 ' 

Rhodes, Samuel, 33 

Riollay, Dr. Francis, 178 

Rogers, Dr. James B., elected Professor 
of Chemistry, 181 
sketch of his life, 182 

Rogers, Dr. Robert E., elected Prof, of 
Chemistry, 182 

Rules for the government of the Medi- 
cal School of the College, 59 

Rush, Dr. Benjamin, elected Professor 
of Chemistry, 71 



Rush, Dr. Benjamin, elected Professor of 
Theory and Practice in the Col- 
lege, 93 
elected Professor of Theory and 
Practice of Institutes and Clini- 
cal Medicine in the University, 
104 
sketch of his life, 122 
Rutherford, Dr. John, 78 
Sargent, John, Esq., medal, 58 
Services of the Medical Professors and 
graduates in the American Revolu- 
tion, 87 
Sewell, Dr. Thomas, 21 

on piedical honors, 67 
Shippen, Dr. William, Sr., 29, 53 

Dr. William, Jr., application for 

professorship, and election, 55 
sketch of his life, 84 I, t\ 
death of, 105 
ShoefF, 25 
Silliman, Dr., 165 
Sinclair, Dr. Andrew, 78 
Smellie, Dr., 112 
Smith, Dr. William, Provost, 62 
reappointment, 92 
Dr. James, 68 
Smith, Dr. Henry H., elected Professor 

of Surgery, 188 
Smith, Dr. Francis Gurney, elected Pro- 
fessor of Institutes, 189 
Mr. Robert, Professor of Obstetrics 
in Edinburgh, 111 
Society, American Philosophical, 32 
American, 34 
American Medical, 222 
Philadelphia Medical, 222 
Somers, Dr., 31 
Stacy, Mahlon, 19 
Still^, Dr. Alfred, elected Professor of 

Theory and Practice, etc., 191 
Story, Thomas, 27 
Studentships, gratuitous, 146 
Surgery separated from Anatomy, 104 

Tennent, Dr., of Virginia, 25 

Dr. John V. B., 68 
Thatcher, Dr. Thomas, 21 

on medical and clerical professions, 
21 
Theses, 76, 126 
Thomas, Gabriel, 19, 23, 25 
Thomson's, Dr. John, Life of Dr. Cul- 

len, 83 
Til ton, Dr. James, 87, 90 
Trustees, Medical, of College in 1765, 
53 
in 1868, 53 



IXDEX. 



227 



University of Edinburgh, 77 

of the State of Pennsylvania, 89 
of Pennsylvania. 97 
of Maryland, 187 
buildings, 207 

Von Soemmering, 140 

Welcome, Ship, 26 

Whytt, Dr. Robert, 82 

Williams, Rev, Nathaniel, 21 

Wilson, Rev. Matthew, 22 

Wistar, Dr. Caspar, elected Professor 

of Chemistry and Institutes in 

the College, 93 



Wistar, Dr. Casper, elected Professor 
of Anatomy, 107 
sketch of his life, 185 
Wood, Dr. George B., elected Professor 
of Materia Medica, 1 60 
elected Professor of Pi'actice, etc , 

179 
resignation of, 188 
Dr. Horatio, 193 
Woodhouse, Dr. James, elected Pro- 
fessor of Chemistry, 102 
sketch of his life, 107 

Young, Dr. Thomas, 85, 111 

Zachary, Dr. Lloyd, 29, 36 



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